For the second time in as many games the Sarnia Sting fall to the London Knights in overtime.
Max Jones again got the game winner, this time however, on a solo shorthanded effort before a season-high crowd of 4,522 at the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre.
Things looked good for Sarnia early on as Matt Mistele opened the scoring, picking up his 17th goal of the season, his ninth as a Sting. Noah Bushnell added to the lead, finishing off a beautiful pass from Sasha Chmelevski.
Chmelevski picked up a goal of his own to open a 3-0 Sting lead 4:06 into the second period, his ninth of the season, Bushnell and Ryan McGregor picking up assists. London got back in the game in a big way, scoring two goals three minutes apart to cut the deficit to a goal. Nikita Korostelev regained some breathing room for Sarnia with his 13th goal of the season and fourth in his last five games. The two goal lead was short lived as London capped off the five goal second period with a power play goal to once again trim Sarnia's lead to one.
London evened the score with their second power play goal of the night, Victor Mete putting one over the outstretched shoulder of Sting goaltender Justin Fazio just five seconds into their man advantage.
That would do it for regulation as the two teams would need overtime for the second straight game.
It was deja vu as the game had a very familiar finish. Thursday's overtime hero Jones beat defenceman Jakob Chychrun wide, cut cross-crease and put the puck high over a sprawling Fazio to claim the extra point for the Knights.
With the overtime loss Sarnia is now six points back of the West Division leading Windsor Spitfires, who won Saturday night in Flint, Michigan. The loss extends Sarnia's winless streak against London to 14 games dating back to March of 2013. They will look to reverse their fortunes when they host the Knights January 21.
Despite their recent struggles against their 402 rival, the Sting have points in their last six games and sit fifth in the Western Conference with a 19-11-4-1 record.