The Sarnia Sting pulled off one of its most thrilling comeback victories ever Thursday night at the RBC Centre.
Trailing the Erie Otters 3-1 with just over three minutes to play, the Sting scored three unanswered goals including the game winner with just 2.7 seconds left on the clock.
Rookie Jordan Kyrou scored to pull the Sting to within one and then scored again with 47 seconds remaining to tie the game with goaltender Taylor Dupuis out of the net for an extra attacker.
The game winner, just before the buzzer, came off the stick of rookie Jakob Chychrun on a goal mouth scramble that saw the puck somehow get behind Devin Williams in the Erie net.
The first half of the game was scoreless but the Otters erupted for three straight late in the second and looked poised to take control of the game.
The Sting, however, would get a big goal on a perfect wrist shot to the top corner by Alex Renaud to make the score 3-1 after 40 minutes.
McDavid, the Sting's Pavel Zacha (Czech Rep) and Anthony DeAngelo (USA) were honoured before the game for their play at the just completed World Junior Hockey Championship.
McDavid, who was instrumental in Canada's gold medal win, received a standing ovation from the crowd of more than 3,200 at the RBC Centre.
DeAngelo, not in uniform, received a rousing send-off from the Sting faithful after having been traded earlier in the day to Sault Ste. Marie for rookie forward Anthony Salinitri and three draft picks.
Salinitri made his debut with the Sting and did not look out of place.
Forward Brandon Lindberg filled in on defense for the Sting.
Kyrou was the game's first star, McDavid second and Chychrun third.
Dupuis was again solid in goal with the Otters having the edge in shots 33-23.
The Sting (19-15-2-2) plays the second of three games in three nights, in Owen Sound Friday night and returns home to host the defending OHL champion Guelph Storm Saturday night.
Listen to all the action on 103.9 FM, 1070 AM, CHOK.