The Sarnia Sting lost its fifth straight 6-3 in Plymouth Thursday night and has one win in its last ten as the pressure builds to hold onto a playoff spot.
The Whalers scored two goals in each period with Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Sonny Milano recording two goals and two assists.
After Plymouth opened the scoring, rookie Sting defenseman Jakob Chychrun scored on a wrap around off the rush for his 14th of the season.
The Sting claimed a brief lead on Nikita Korostelev's 20th of the year but the Whalers would draw even at 2 after the opening period.
After falling behind 4-2 in the second, Hayden Hodgson banged home his 19th with Chychrun assisting and the Sting would head to the final period down just one goal.
The home team dominated the third, however, with Milano scoring twice to put the game away.
The Sting held the edge in shots on goal 42-35. Justin Fazio took his 12th loss of the season in goal against seven wins.
To make the loss even worse, forward Pavel Zacha, who has missed almost half the season so far due to injury and suspension, was handed a game misconduct for a check from behind halfway through the third.
Zacha had two assists before being kicked out.
With Windsor's overtime win over visiting Ottawa, both the Spitfires and Saginaw Spirit trail the seventh place Sting by just six points now and both hold two games in hand.
Sarnia (25-27-4-3) has given up 30 goals in its last five games and has nine games left in the regular season. Plymouth is at the RBC Centre Friday night for the back half of a home and home series.
The Sting is at Windsor Sunday afternoon.
Listen to all the action on 103.9 FM, 1070 AM, CHOK.