The Sarnia Sting dropped the first game of the annual New Years series with the London Knights, falling 4-3 in overtime at Budweiser Gardens Thursday night.
JJ Piccinich opened the scoring for the Knights 5:40 into the opening frame. Nicolas Mattinen scored a powerplay marker to make it 2-0 at the 11:50 mark of the first. Cliff Pu assisted on both goals.
Sarnia's Hayden Hodgson dropped the gloves with the Knights Chandler Yakimowicz shortly after. Yakimowicz picked up an additional two minutes for instigating and a game misconduct.
The Sting pulled to within a goal when Nikita Korostelev scored with 41 seconds remaining in the first. Matt Mistele and Anthony Salinitri picked up the helpers.
The Sting's Patrick White tied the game 2-2 midway through the second period, and Matt Mistele put Sarnia up 3-2 early in the third.
Owen MacDonald tied the game back up just 2:24 after Mistele's goal, sending the game to overtime where Max Jones sealed the victory for London.
White says the Sting played well.
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Kaden Fulcher made 27 saves on 31 shots in the Sting net while Brendan Burke stopped 23 of 26 Sting chances.
The Sting (19-11-3-1), sit second place in the OHL's West Division with 42 points, five back of Windsor.
Sarnia's next game is Saturday night at the SSEC against the Knights. You can hear the game live on 103.9FM-1070AM CHOK. Puck drop is 7pm.