A quick start was all the Sarnia Sting needed to move ahead in the OHL playoffs.
The Sting got three early goals in a row on their way to a 5-2 win over the Windsor Spitfires in Game 6 of their first-round series, eliminating the Memorial Cup champions in front of 2,759 fans on Easter Sunday at the WFCU Centre.
Sarnia will now advance in the Western Conference tourney and take on the Kitchener Rangers in the conference semifinals.
Ryan McGregor opened the scoring for the Sting when he registered his second goal of the playoffs at 4:03 in the opening period. Franco Sproviero doubled the Sarnia lead less than two minutes later.
Jonathan Ang extended the Sting lead to 3-0 with his first goal of the playoffs at 7:41 in the second frame, though Windsor got on the scoreboard before the end of the period on a lamplighter from William Sirman.
Zach Shankar pulled the Spits to within one with a goal at 5:16 in the third period, but Jordan Ernst got that score back for the Sting near the midway point of the stanza. Windsor goalie Michael DiPietro was pulled for the extra attacker, but Hugo Leufvenius scored the sealer into the empty-net, punching Sarnia's ticket to the conference semifinals.
Justin Fazio had 18 saves in goal for Sarnia. DiPietro completed his season with 28 saves.
Game 1 is expected to start in Kitchener with a date and time to be announced once the schedule is finalized.