The Sarnia Legionnaires exploded with three straight goals in the third period to seal a 6-2 win over the Lambton Shores Predators Saturday night in the Battle of Lambton.
The first period was scoreless, with each team going to the penalty box once. The Predators' Max Griffioen and Sarnia's Derrick Johnson each went for interference.
In the second period, Brett Storr of the Legionnaires was sent off within the first three minutes and Lambton Shores' Jake Desando took advantage with a goal to put the Predators up first. Sarnia's chance to tie it up came through after the 15 minute mark of the period when Zach Vanderwal lit the lamp. Again, the two teams went to their dressing rooms tied in the game.
The Legionnaires put the game out of reach in the third period with three unanswered goals, coming in order from Storr, Vanderwal (his second of the night), and the first goal of the game from Josh Barraclough, all within the first 5:10 of the period. Lambton Shores got one back at 5:22 on a Cale Markham goal, but Barraclough would strike back a little over a minute and a half later with a 5-2 Sarnia lead. The Predators did score one more late in the period thanks to Andrew Kim.
The Predators will take on the Chatham Maroons Sunday night at Memorial Arena, while the Legionnaires will host these same Predators Thursday night.
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Braeden Bowers scored twice as the Strathroy Rockets beat the St. Thomas Stars at home 8-5.
Braeden Bowers put the Rockets up first in the opening frame, finding the back of the net at 12:13 in the first period. Strathroy's lead would be doubled in the first when Cody Schneider scored a power play goal with 52 seconds left in the period.
The Stars got on the board on an unassisted goal 43 seconds into the second period from Brendan Cherwalk. However, just 11 seconds later, the Rockets extended their lead to two once more on Bowers' second goal of the night. St. Thomas' Christian Clark pulled the Stars to within one at 7:41 with a score, only to Matthew Stevens of Strathroy connect 26 seconds later. At 11:11, the Stars trailed 4-3 when Adam Keyes scored on the power play. Starthroy then scored two more in the period, off the sticks of Mark Bastow and Michael Wood.
The Stars got within a goal of Strathroy again at 6:54 in the third period on a score from Dane Johnstone, though the Rockets' Dillon Saunders answered back less than a minute later. The two teams would exchange goals again late in the period, when Adam Keyes scored for the Stars and Tristan Sedlak scored an empty netter.
Strathroy will take on the Flyers in Leamington on Thursday night, while St. Thomas travels to face the Nationals Wednesday.
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The Mooretown Flags beat the Petrolia Flyers 4-2 on the strength of two goals by Ben Morrison.
Zach VenEyk got the Flyers on the board almost right away, scoring at 1:06 into the opening period to make it 1-0 Petrolia. The Flags' Morrison tied up the game at 14:35 in the frame.
It would not be until a tick after the halfway point of the second period that Mooretown would take the lead, a Kyle Smith goal at 10:01. Petrolia tied the game up at two apiece on a goal from Curtis Helps at 13:24 but the Flags regained the lead 52 seconds later. Nolan Riley's tally provided his team with a 3-2 edge after 40 minutes of play.
There would be no additional scoring until Morrison put a puck into an empty net with 30 seconds left in regulation.
Nolan Hakr had 22 saves for Mooretown, who host Lakeshore Wednesday night. Petrolia travels to Wheatley on Monday.