The Sarnia Sting stole game one of their OHL opening round playoff against the heavily favoured Otters 3-2 in Erie Pennsylvania Thursday night.
Overage forward Stephen Pierog's goal early in the third period gave the Sting a 3-1 lead and stood to be the game winner. Pierog took advantage of a pass that deflected off an Otters stick giving him the open side of the goal to put the puck in.
Erie's Remi Elie made it a one goal game with nine minutes remaining but the Sting stuck to their game plan that kept Connor McDavid and the high flying Otters offense at bay, for the most part, all night.
Overage goaltender Taylor Dupuis rose to the playoff challenge, stopping 32 of 34 shots and was named the game's first star.
After a scoreless first period that saw the Sting kill a five minute major penalty to Alex Black, Erie finally got on the board midway through the second when OHL rookie scoring champion Alex DeBrincat got a power play marker.
The Sting, however, would strike back with two goals before the end of the period. Pavel Zacha ripped a wrist shot past Devin Williams to tie the game and Jeff King's shot from the point on the power play found the back of the net with just three seconds on the clock.
Zacha had a goal and an assist and Jordan Kyrou recorded two assists.
McDavid, the consensus first round pick in this year's NHL entry draft and league scoring champion Dylan Strome were held to one assist each.
Overage defenseman Josh Chapman had a strong game, earning third star honours.
Rookie defenseman Jakob Chychrun was held out of the lineup again as he nurses an injury.
The seventh seeded Sting lead the best of 7 Western Conference quarterfinal 1-0 with game two Friday night at Erie Insurance Arena.
Games three and four are at the RBC Centre Sunday and Tuesday nights.
Listen to all the action on 103.9 FM, 1070 AM, CHOK.