After shutting out the Rangers 3-0 in Sarnia Thursday night, the Sting could not complete the sweep in Kitchener Friday, losing 3-2.
Rookie goaltender Justin Fazio got his first start in almost a month and made some big saves but it was a shot from Brandon Robinson that found the net off his catching glove in the third period that would stand as the game winner.
Sarnia head coach Trevor Letowski.
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The Sting carried a 1-0 lead through the midway point of the game on Alex Renaud's late first period deflection over the shoulder of veteran Ranger goaltender Jake Paterson. Jeff King and Alex Black drew assists.
With Jakob Chychrun in the penalty box for ten minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct in an attempt to fight, Kitchener took advantage of the Sting being down to four defensemen. The Rangers got their first goal against the Sting in over four periods on their fourth power play when Darby Llewellyn stepped out from the corner and swept the puck to the far side past Fazio.
Less than three minutes later Nick Magyar put the home team ahead to stay on a wrister to the top corner.
The Sting created several scoring chances in the third period, outshooting the Rangers 16-9.
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Down 3-1, Chychrun's blast from the point on the power play with under eight minutes to go, drew the Sting to within one goal but they could not get another by Paterson.
Stephen Pierog and Nikita Korostelev assisted on Chychrun's 11th of the season.
The final shots on goal were 31-30 in favour of Kitchener.
The Sting (24-20-4-2) falls three points behind the fifth place Rangers in the Western Conference but remains one up on Owen Sound after the Attack lost 4-3 in Saginaw.
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Sarnia is back home to play the Mississauga Steelheads Sunday afternoon at 4:05pm.
Listen to all the action on 103.9 FM, 1070 AM, CHOK.
Elsewhere Friday, in a battle between the two top teams in the conference, Sault Ste. Marie beat the Otters in Erie 6-1. Former Sting Anthony DeAngelo had a goal and three assists and leads all OHL defensemen in scoring with 59 points in 40 games.
