The Sarnia Sting (25-9-2-0) fell 5-0 to the visiting Windsor Spitfires (19-11-2-1) Thursday night, in the OHL's return from the holiday break.
The Sting failed to light the lamp on a night when the new score clock and power ring debuted at Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
Windsor pulled ahead big 3-0 late in the first period with Kirill Kozhevn, Connor Corcoran and Tyler Angle all scoring back-to-back goals.
Angle scored his second of the night 4:19 into the second period to bring Windsor’s lead to 4-0, and Austin McEneny capped off the win with a goal 17:08 into the third.
Spitfires goaltender Michael DiPietro responded to the disappointment of being cut from Canada's world junior team by posting a 43-save shutout.
Sarnia remains second place in the OHL with 52 points, ten back of the first-place Sault St. Marie Greyhounds.
Sarnia was without Jordan Kyrou and Adam Ruzicka who are representing Canada and Slovakia respectively at the World Jr. Hockey Championship but Assistant Coach Brad Staubitz says that's no excuse. He doesn't like the way the team is trending right now.
"We're losing those puck battles, stick battles, getting outworked, not finishing opportunities, things we weren't doing early on in the season," says Staubitz.
The Sting will host the London Knights on New Years Eve before heading to London on New Years Day.
You can hear all of the action live on CHOK.
-With files from Dave Dentinger
