The Sarnia Sting needed overtime to defeat Kitchener 3-2 in front of 2,697 fans at the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre Wednesday night.
Sarnia was behind the eight ball early when Kitchener's Ryan MacInnis opened the scoring 48 seconds into the game. Sting rookie Ryan McGregor evened things up with his seventh goal of his freshman campaign. Sam Studnicka and Travis Konecny picked up assists on the goal that came just before the midway point of the opening frame.
The visiting Rangers regained their lead when overage defenceman Miles Liberati score a powerplay marker just over four minutes into the middle stanza. Sarnia trailed for the majority of the period, until a streaking Jordan Kyrou finished off a brilliant individual effort to even the game at two.
There was no scoring in the third period despite three Sarnia powerplays.
Overtime didn't last long as Pavel Zacha received a drop pass from Konecny and wired a snap shot over the should of Kitchener goalie Luke Opilka.
Charlie Graham stopped 31 of the 33 shots he faced in the Sarnia net.
The win improves the Sting's record to 28-14-5-1 on the season and brings them within three points of the division leading Windsor Spitfires.
The Sting host Erie Friday before travelling to London Sunday afternoon.