A comeback effort by the Sarnia Sting was muzzled Sunday afternoon by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
Sarnia scored two goals in the third period but could not get the equalizer in their 5-4 defeat to the Hounds at Progressive Auto Sales Arena. The Sting have 57 points and are in seventh place in the OHL Western Conference, just two points ahead of the eighth-seeded Windsor Spitfires.
The Sting drew first blood at 2:39 when Ryan McGregor put the puck in the net, good for his 150th OHL career point. Sault Ste. Marie responded with three unanswered goals. Jaromir Pytlik tied the game on the power play at 10:11, Mac Hollowell provided the go-ahead goal, also on the power play; and Morgan Frost scored a short-handed goal for insurance. Trailing 3-1 at that point, Jacob Perreault brought Sarnia to within one with a power play goal, his 28th score of the season.
The Hounds added two goals in the second period, which resulted in Sting goalie Ethan Langevin being pulled for backup Cameron Lamour midway through the frame. Keeghan Howdeshell and Tye Kartye were the scorers and Sault Ste. Marie led 5-2 after 40 minutes of play.
Sarnia used the power play to pull the game closer in the third period, with extra-man goals from Mitch Eliot and Franco Sproviero. Lamour was pulled late in regulation for the extra attacker but the Sting was unable to force overtime.
Langevin and Lamour combined for 23 saves for the Sting. Matthew Villalta stopped 36 shots for Sault Ste. Marie.
The Sting travel to Erie on Saturday for a contest against the Otters, who are fighting to get into a playoff spot.
