The Sarnia Sting held a 2-0 lead in the second period despite being heavily outshot but couldn't hold on Friday night at the RBC Centre against the Eastern Conference leading Oshawa Generals.
The Generals scored three unanswered including two in the third period to win 3-2.
Nikita Korostelev scored his team leading 11th goal of the season on a snap shot to the top corner to give the Sting a 1-0 lead after the opening period.
Troy Lajeunesse gave the Sting a 2-0 lead nine minutes into the second on a deft cross-crease backhand but Oshawa would pull to within one goal after 40 minutes on Cole Cassels first of two on the night.
Cassels power play marker tied the game before the midway point of the third and the winning goal came off the stick of defenceman Stephen Desrocher on a screen in front of Taylor Dupuis.
Dupuis again gave the Sting a chance to win with Oshawa dominating the shot clock 39-14.
The Sting was without the services of Jakob Chychrun and Hayden Hodgson due to injury and Pavel Zacha who served the first of a two game suspension for a slew footing match penalty in Niagara last weekend.
The Sting (6-10-1-1) has lost four straight and has fallen into last place in the Western Conference, a point behind the Windsor Spitfires.
Sarnia is back in action Saturday night against the team with the worst record in the league, the Sudbury Wolves. (3-16)
Listen to all the Sting action on 103.9 FM, 1070 AM CHOK.
Former NHLer Jon Sim, who twice scored 50 goals with the Sarnia Sting, was the special guest at a ceremony prior to the game to unveil the team's 50-Goal-Club banner that also includes the names of Ivan Novoseltsev, Steven Stamkos and Reid Boucher.
