The Sarnia Sting still control their playoff destiny despite losing 10 of their past 11 games.
The Sting fell to the Firebirds 4-2 Tuesday, Sarnia's second loss in Flint in three nights.
Alexis Daviault and Marko Sikic scored in the loss, and goaltender Ben Gaudreau allowed three goals on 40 shots and was named the game's third star.
After a scoreless first period, Daviault fired home his fifth goal of the season just 59 seconds into the second. Flint's Zacharie Giroux tied things at one at 6:07 before Brennan Othmann gave the home side the lead at 9:37. With under two minutes to play in the middle frame, Flint's Dmitry Kuzmin backhanded a clearing attempt off of the back of his own goaltender, Luke Cavallin, and the game was tied 3-3 -- the power play marker was awarded to Sikic, his 15th goal of the season.
The Firebirds came out strong in the third period, outshooting Sarnia 17-5 in the final 20 minutes and 41-32 overall. Flint's Coulson Pitre was stopped on a penalty shot at 2:44 following a foul from behind penalty on Nolan DeGurse. The Sting took their second minor penalty of the game at 12:46 leading to Tyler Deline's game-winning goal at 14:16. Othmann added an empty-netter at 19:19, his second goal of the game and 46th on the season.
The Sting remain a point ahead of Erie for the final playoff spot in the OHL's Western Conference after the Otters fell to Guelph 4-1 Tuesday -- Sarnia and Erie each have two games remaining.
The Sting's final home game of the regular season goes Friday night against the Saginaw Spirit. Sarnia then heads to London on Sunday for game number 68 -- both games can be heard on CHOK (1070 AM/103.9 FM).
