The Sarnia Sting were defeated 5-2 by the visiting Niagara Ice Dogs in Ontario Hockey League action Friday.
Ivan Lodnia opened the scoring for the Ice Dogs at the 16:38 mark of the first period on the power play.
Sarnia captain Ryan McGregor scored 68 seconds later to even the score 1-1 after the opening period.
Akil Thomas scored to make it 2-1 Niagara midway through the second frame before the Sting's Nolan Dillingham scored his first career OHL goal.
The Ice Dogs regained the lead on a goal by Oliver Castleman with less than three minutes left in the period.
Philip Tomasino tallied for Niagara early in the third and Thomas scored his second goal of the game into an empty net.
Sarnia has lost five of their last six games and Sting associate coach Brad Staubitz said the visitors were winning the one-on-one battles.
"We've been having a tough time handling the puck and connecting two passes together. You can't play a fast, aggressive game like that.
"I thought we were better tonight with that, okay to good in our transition, but it was the desperation of the game and one-on-one battles that was our downfall tonight."
He added " We've got a lot of young guys that have to realize that it doesn't come easy when things are going good. Every game's just as hard as it was the night before."
Sarnia goalie Benjamin Gaudreau stopped 20 of 24 shots while Tucker Tynan turned aside 34 Sting shots.
The Sting visit the Soo Greyhounds Saturday. The pregame show starts at 6:35 p.m. on 103.9 FM - 1070 AM CHOK.
The Sting complete the weekend visiting the Flint Firebirds Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
