Sarnia Sting forward Luca Del Bel Belluz scored in overtime to lift his club to a 2-1 win over the Saginaw Spirit Sunday afternoon.
Sting goaltender Ben Gaudreau made 33 saves and was named the game's first star, and Ty Voit also scored in the win to help Sarnia take a 2-0 series lead in the Western Conference semifinal.
Voit opened the scoring on the power play at 8:14 of the first period, his second goal of the postseason. Sarnia outshot Saginaw 15-4 in the opening frame and led 1-0 after 20 minutes.
Both teams were held off the scoresheet in the second period. Gaudreau made eight saves, and Spirit goaltender Tristan Lennox turned away 14 Sting shots -- Lennox made a total of 45 saves and was named the game's second star.
In the third period, Saginaw upped its attack, outshooting Sarnia 17-11 over the final 20 minutes of regulation. With their net empty and time dying down, Spirit forward Matyas Sapovaliv tied the game at 1-1 with under 40 seconds on the clock. Off the ensuing faceoff, Sarnia came close to restoring its one-goal lead when Nolan Burke rang a shot off the post before the period came to an end.
In overtime, Lennox was handed a delay of game penalty, sending Sarnia to its fourth power play of the game. Just over a minute later, at 8:37, Del Bel Belluz potted his fourth of the postseason when he jumped on a loose puck in front of the net, giving Sarnia the 2-1 win.
Three of Sarnia's six wins during the postseason have come in overtime -- Burke scored two OT-winners in the opening round versus Guelph.
Game 3 of the best-of-seven series goes Tuesday night in Saginaw -- coverage on CHOK (103.9 FM/1070 AM) begins at 6:30 p.m.
