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Spence the difference in 2-0 Sarnia victory over Plymouth

March 21, 2009 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


PLYMOUTH - Sarnia goaltender Dan Spence stopped all 52 shots he faced, while Jamie Arniel scored in the first period and Matt Martin scored an empty net goal late in the third period as the Sarnia Sting defeated the Plymouth Whalers, 2-0, in an Ontario Hockey League playoff game played Saturday night before 3,176 at Compuware Arena.

Sarnia leads the best-four-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series, one-game-to-none. Game 2 is set for Sarnia at 6pm on Sunday.

In spite of being outshot, 19-11 in the first period, Arniel (who scored 32 goals during the regular season) scored the first goal of the series at 16:25 on a two-man Sarnia power play. Arniel - a Boston Bruins draft choice - moved to the top of left circle and rifled a shot past Plymouth goaltender Matt Hackett.

Spence and Hackett matched each other, save for save, until the final minute of play in regulation. Plymouth head coach Mike Vellucci called a timeout with 1:44 left in the third period and pulled Hackett for an extra attacker and a faceoff in the Sarnia zone. But Martin broke free at center ice and wristed a shot into the empty net with 1:29 remaining.

Plymouth outshot Sarnia, 52-33.

The Sting received a boost from young defensemen Joe Rogalski, Nathan Chiarlitti and Daniel Broussard, who all played major minutes after veteran defenseman Mark Katic left the game early in the second period with an injury. The status of Katic - a New York Islander draft choice - is unknown for Game 2.

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