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Otters End Season with Dramatic Overtime Win

March 16, 2013 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL) - Erie Otters News Release


Erie, Pa. - The Erie Otters closed out the season with a dramatic overtime victory over the Guelph Storm, 5-4, in front of a season-high 4,608 fans at Erie Insurance Arena Saturday night.

Jimmy McDowell scored with 12 seconds remaining in overtime to complete the Erie comeback in front of a raucous sellout crowd.

The Storm struck first with a pair of goals in the first period from Patrick Watling and Scott Kosmachuk. Tyler Bertuzzi scored on the power play 6:29 into the second period to give the Storm a 3-0 lead.

Adam Pelech put the Otters on the board with a power play goal at 7:41 of the second period. The New York Islanders prospect blasted a shot from the right circle for his eighth goal of the season.

Connor Brown scored the first of his two goals 8:13 into the third period during an Erie power play. Brown stuffed the puck on the blocker side post that was ruled a good goal after video review to put the Otters within a goal.

Zac Leslie increased the Storm lead back to two at 12:33 to temporarily quiet the Erie crowd.

The Otters clawed back to within a goal with 4:19 remaining as Dane Fox's shot from the right wing boards went through traffic in front of the crease and into the goal for his 19th goal of the season.

Regulation ended wildly with the Otters frantically trying to tie the game in the dying seconds. Pelech's hustle to keep the puck in the Storm zone led to the equalizer. Pelech found McDavid in the high slot, and the phenom handed the puck off to Nick Betz. Betz drove to the left of the net and found Brown with a perfect pass on the other side of the goal, where the captain tied the game with three-tenths of a second remaining.

McDowell won the game in overtime with a power play goal from a Saverio Posa delay of game penalty. McDowell's shot from the high slot found the top corner of the night on the glove side for the dramatic Erie victory and his 14th goal of the season.

McDavid led the Otters with four assists, a career-high. He also set a team record for most assists (41) and points (66) by an Otters rookie.

Before the game, the Otters honored overage forward J.P. Labardo, who played in his 300th OHL game last week and in his final OHL game tonight. The Otters also unveiled an alternate jersey prior to the puck drop, which will be yellow with a navy blue and white trim. The jersey will be worn next season.

Locastro-Bonini Insurance Three Stars of the Game

No. 1 Star - Connor Brown, Erie, - two goals (Three Star Winner of the Year)

No. 2 Star - Connor McDavid, Erie - four assists

No. 3 Star - J.P. Labardo, Erie


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