Three straight power play goals proved to be the difference as the Sarnia Sting dropped a 5-2 decision to the league leading Otters in Erie Friday night.
The Sting took eight penalties and the Otters three.
Rookie Alex DeBrincat recorded his first OHL hat trick to lead Erie while league scoring leader Connor McDavid had three assists and Dylan Strome two helpers in the win.
Erie has now won 14 of 16 games played.
The Sting's top line got both goals for the visitors. Nikita Korostelev scored his 10th to make it 2-1 after the first.
Davis Brown got his 7th in the third to make it 5-2.
Korostelev and Brown both had an assist while linemate Pavel Zacha recorded two assists.
Korostelev now has 20 points to lead the Sting in scoring. Zacha has 16 points and is second in the league in rookie scoring but well behind DeBrincat's impressive 31 points.
Erie outshot the Sting 32-16. Taylor Dupuis went the distance in goal for the Sting and Devin Williams for the Otters.
Sarnia (6-8-1-1) is in Niagara Saturday night to complete a stretch of five consecutive away games while Sarnia-Lambton hosts the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge.
The Sting is 2-2 so far on the road swing.
Listen to all the Sting action on 103.9 FM, 1070 AM CHOK.