After a rough eastern road trip last weekend, the Sarnia Sting was solid from start to finish in a 3-0 shutout of the Kitchener Rangers Thursday night at the RBC Centre.
Veteran goaltender Taylor Dupuis recorded his first shutout of the season, stopping all 19 shots he faced.
It was a fast paced game throughout that had a playoff feel with the Western Conference rivals now separated by just a single point in the standings.
After a scoreless first period, overage forward Stephen Pierog pounced on a loose puck on a lucky bounce off the boards early in the second and slid it past veteran Ranger netminder Jake Paterson.
Pierog's tenth of the year was assisted by Kevin Spinozzi.
Hayden Hodgson extended the Sting lead to 2-0 after two periods with his 17th of the season from Brandon Lindberg and Anthony Salinitri.
Lindberg iced the game late in the third, putting his 13th of the year into an empty net with Paterson pulled for the extra attacker.
Daniel Nikandrov drew an assist.
Sarnia outshot the Rangers 30-19.
Dupuis was named first star, Nikita Korostelev did not record a point but was dangerous all night and named second star while Pierog earned third star honours.
With the win, the Sting (24-19-4-2) moves to within one point of the fifth place Rangers heading into the back half of the home and home series Friday night in Kitchener.
The Sting is back home Sunday to host Mississauga at 4:05pm.
Listen to all the action on 103.9 FM, 1070 AM, CHOK.