The Sarnia Sting's modest two-game winstreak ended with a 7-3 loss in Saginaw.
The Spirit scored three times in the first period on goals from Albert Michnac, Danny Katic and Nicholas Porco.
Sarnia would get on the board four minutes into the second on Jamieson Rees' fifth goal of the season on the power play assisted by Ryan McGregor and Mitch Eliot.
Bode Wilde, Aiden Preuter, Cole Perfetti and Michnac would reply for Saginaw, taking a 7-1 lead into the third period.
The Sting's Jacob Perreault would score his 17th of the season with assists going to Rees and Nick Grima and Franco Sproviero his 13th from Grima and Alexandre Hogue with the man advantage to round out the scoring in the final frame.
Heading into the holiday break, Perreault leads all rookies in the OHL with 30 points including 17 goals in 30 games.
Both teams were 2/3 on the power play Saturday.
Cameron Lamour, picked up in a trade with Saginaw earlier in the week, started in net for Sarnia. He was pulled after two periods allowing seven goals on 28 shots.
Ethan Langevin played the third and stopped all 13 shots he faced. Ivan Prosvetov made 18 saves for the Spirit.
Sarnia associate coach Brad Staubitz said, "It was a tough game for us up here. Yeah we played a good third period but too late, right."
He added," (we had a) bit of a depleted team but it's no excuse, Saginaw was too. Rest is key and especially the young guys are excited about getting back home, see their family, refresh, come back and get ready for the second half of the season."
The Sting are now on their Christmas break and host Owen Sound on Friday, December 28.