A late power play goal by Akil Thomas with 48 seconds remaining in the third period was the game winner as the IceDogs edged the Sting 6-5 in Niagara.
Ivan Lodnia opened the scoring for the home team at the 3:23 mark of the first period unleashing thousands of teddy bears on to the ice at the Meridian Centre.
Sarnia's Colton Kammerer (3) would tie the game at the 9:52 mark but less than a minute later Oliver Castleman would give the IceDogs a 2-1 lead heading into the second period.
Two minutes into the second Marek Berka (2) tied it for Sarnia.
Niagara would regain the lead on a goal from Andrew Bruder at 6:24 but 19 seconds later Sarnia's Eric Hjorth would tie the game again.
But less than a minute later the IceDogs would take the lead on Castleman's second goal of the game.
Sean Josling (23) the tallied for the Sting to close out the second period even at 4-4.
Jamieson Rees' goal (15) would give Sarnia their first lead of the game two minutes into the third but the IceDogs would retaliate with Lodnia's second goal and Thomas' game winner.
Captain Ryan McGregor assisted on three Sarnia goals.
Sarnia associate coach Brad Staubitz liked the team's effort despite the loss.
"I thought it was good outing for us. We turned some things around that we talked about. We competed hard and we were desperate in our D-zone. I thought it was a good game overall. It was a fast game and physical game but we just came out of it on the wrong side tonight."
Ethan Langevin stopped 24 of 30 shots for Sarnia while Niagara's Tucker Tynan made 37 saves.
With eight losses in their last ten games the Sting complete the weekend in Erie Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Staubitz hopes his team maintains the effort. "Yeah absolutely. If we play like that on a consistent basis we're gonna win more games than we lose."
The pregame show starts at 1:35 p.m. on 103.9 FM - 1070 AM CHOK.