The Sarnia Sting capped of a very successful weekend with a 7-2 victory over the Ottawa 67's Sunday afternoon.
The win marks the second straight against an Eastern Conference foe, following Saturday's 6-2 triumph over Kingston.
Similar to Saturday, Sarnia surrendered the game's first goal as former Sting Sasha Chmelevski helped set up the opening marker just shy of the ten minute mark. The Sting responded with a pair of goals 50 second apart later in the period to take the lead, as Ryan McGregor and Brady Hinz both picked up their first of the young season. Anthony Salinitri assisted on both goals, he finished the night with three helpers.
Sarnia's offence pulled away in the second period with three goals in under three minutes to take command of the hockey game. That really took the wind out of the Ottawa sails with the 67's playing their third game in three nights.
Brady Hinz and Jordan Ernst both scored a pair of goals, while Drake Rymsha, Ryan McGregor and Jordan Kyrou each had a goal and an assists. Associate Coach David Legwand says you'll win more than you lose when you get that kind of scoring depth.
"It's always nice when you get that kind of offensive support, Aidan (Hughes) did a great job in net when we needed him. We had a couple of break downs but it was a pretty well game played for the most part. When you get seven goals a game it's tough to beat you."
Aidan Hughes tracks down the loose puck against Ottawa (Photo by Metcalfe Photography)
Hughes made 23 saves in his first start of the season. Legwand says he held the fort early in the game while the team found their footing.
"He was good, made some key saves in some key times and kept us in the game in the first period. It was a tight game there until the second period, he did a phenomenal job today."
The Sting dressed seven defencemen, with Alexandre Hogue and Braden Henderson splitting time between forward and defence. Despite giving up an early goal, Legwand says as a group they found a way to calm things down in their own end.
"The defencemen are learning quickly and doing the right things, I think we need to keep preaching the right things. Defence are there to play defence, and chip in when the opportunity is there. Obviously, with the talent of our forward group you just try to get the puck up to them as soon as possible."
2,136 fans took in the game Sunday afternoon at Progressive Auto Sales Arena, including former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Wendel Clark. His son Kory Clark is in his second season with the 67's.
The Sting travel to Owen Sound Wednesday night before a pair of home games next weekend against Barrie Friday, and Hamilton on the Monday of Thanksgiving weekend.