Jon Maillet For The Journal
The Sarnia Legionnaires would go the distance, downing the St Thomas Stars 5-4 in a shootout at the Pat Stapleton Arena Thursday night.
Anthony Tudino scored the shootout winner in the fourth round.
Goaltender Jack Martin — who was perfect in the shootout stopping all four Stars shooters — made 27 saves in the 5-4 win.
Neither team gave an inch during regulation, with the two teams deadlocked at the end of each period. Cameron Graham gave the Legionnaires a 1-0 early in the first — his third of the season — but the lead was short lived as the Stars would score about two minutes later, tying things up at 1–1 heading into the second.
The two teams would trade goals again in the second, each scoring twice. Lucas Durham notched his first GOJHL goal to inch Sarnia ahead 2-1. St. Thomas would respond less than a minute later, Briir Long scoring his seventh of the season to tie things back up at 2-2.
Tudino would once again give the Legionnaires a lead with his fifth of the season, going up 3-2, 6:28 into the middle frame. Again, the Stars would answer back before the end of the period, Jackson Doyle buried his second of the season, and the teams were back to square one tied 3-3.
In the third, the Stars would get their first lead of the game, as Seth Huygen scored his second of the year, lifting St Thomas to a 4-3 lead 6:26 into the third period.
In dramatic fashion, the Legionnaires would wait until the last five minutes before tying it up; Ty Therrien would find the back of the net with just 3:15 left to play. His fifth of the season sent Sarnia to overtime tied 4-4.
St Thomas led the shot clock in the extra frame 7-3, but Legionnaires goalie Jack Martin stood tall, and overtime would solve nothing. Martin faced four shooters in the shootout, turning away all four shooters he faced, leaving it up to Tudino to bring home the win.
Neither team scored on the powerplay, as the penalty kills were perfect. Legionnaires had four chances with the man advantage, while St. Thomas had two powerplay opportunities.
The two teams do it all over again Friday night, as Sarnia loads up the bus and heads to St Thomas, puck drops at 7:30 p.m. at the Joe Thornton Community Centre.