The Sarnia Sting was able to fight back from a 2-0 deficit but lost in overtime 3-2 to the Windsor Spitfires at the RBC Centre Saturday night.
The visitors carried the play much of the night and outshot the Sting 38-24.
Sarnia assitant coach Andy Delmore says his team didn't take the Spitfires lightly.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Sting-Andy.mp3"][/audio]
Windsor took a 1-0 first period lead on a goal by Jamie Lewis and extended the lead to 2-0 early in the second when Cristiano DiGiacinto beat Taylor Dupuis with a shot over the blocker.
Sarnia drew to within one, however, midway through the second, when Alex Renaud scored his eighth of the season, shorthanded, on a feed from Troy Lajeunesse. Defenseman Zachary Core had the other assist.
The injury plagued Sting welcomed Lajeunesse back into the depleted lineup.
Markus Soberg had a chance to restore Windsor's two goal lead but missed on a penalty shot.
The Sting would score the lone goal of the third period. Hayden Hodgson slid the puck past Port Lambton native Brendan Johnston in a goal mouth scramble for his 15th of the year. Brandon Lindberg and Jeff King drew the assists.
It didn't take long for the game to be decided in overtime. Just 20 seconds in, a bad angle shot by Logan Brown squeezed past Dupuis on the near post.
Dupuis was named the game's third star. Brown received first star honours for his game winner and DiGiacinto was named second star.
The single point for the overtime loss gives the Sting 50 points on the season (22-17-4-2) and moves the club into fifth place in the Western Conference, a point up on Kitchener and Owen Sound. The Rangers and Attack both have games in hand though.
Windsor is now just four points behind Saginaw for the eighth and final playoff spot in the west.
The Sting and Spitfires play the back half of their home and home Sunday night in Windsor at 7:05pm.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Sting-Andy-2.mp3"][/audio]
Listen to all the action on 103.9 FM, 1070 AM, CHOK.