BRAMPTON, Ont. - The Brampton Battalion plays its last game before the Ontario Hockey League's Christmas break when it entertains the Sarnia Sting at 2 p.m. Sunday.

The Battalion, fresh off a 2-1 overtime victory over the host Ottawa 67's on Friday night, has won a season-high five straight games to push its won-lost-extended record to 19-10-4 for 42 points, first in the Central Division and Eastern Conference.

Sarnia, 19-9-5 for 43 points, second in the West Division after winning its last two, was to visit the Erie Otters on Saturday night.

Sting right winger Nail Yakupov was expected to play at Erie before leaving early Sunday to join the Russian team that is to compete in the World Junior Championship tournament at Edmonton and Calgary starting Dec. 26.

Yakupov has 20 goals and 31 assists for 51 points in 25 games, tied with teammate Charles Sarault, a centre, for second place in the OHL scoring race, which is led by Tanner Pearson of the Barrie Colts with 66 points. Sarault has scored 13 goals and earned 38 assists for 51 points in 33 games.

The game is the second and last of the season between the teams, after a 4-3 Battalion victory via shootout at Sarnia on Sept. 30. Sam Carrick scored two goals in regulation time and the only goal of the shootout as the Troops, backstopped by goaltender Keegan Wilson in his first OHL start, captured the second of four straight road wins.

In the game at Ottawa, which matched division leaders tied atop the conference, Wilson produced a stellar performance, making 38 saves, including three in overtime, and holding the Battalion in contention until Michael Santini scored the winning goal 4:10 into extra time. Santini backhanded his own rebound past goaltender Petr Mrazek of the 67's, who lead the East Division and were scheduled to visit Barrie on Saturday night.

It was the first goal of the season for Santini, who has played only 15 games. He missed 12 games with a high-ankle sprain suffered Oct. 10 in a 5-1 victory over the visiting Mississauga St. Michael's Majors and a further six games after separating a shoulder in a 3-0 road win Nov. 20 over the Sudbury Wolves.

The Battalion, 6-1-4 in one-goal games, has won four of eight extended games, including two of three overtime decisions and two of five shootouts.

The Battalion has captured all three meetings with Ottawa this season, including a 4-1 road verdict Oct. 14 and a 3-2 victory via shootout at home Nov. 13. The Troops host the 67's on March 18, the last day of the regular season.

Wilson and partner Matej Machovsky have combined to give the Battalion a league-leading team goals-against average of 2.52. The Kitchener Rangers are second at 2.59.

Wilson, who has recorded one shutout, is 7-4-1 with a 2.51 GAA and .906 save percentage. Machovsky, who was expected to start against Sarnia, is 12-6-0 with four shutouts, a 2.21 GAA and a .911 save percentage.