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Erie Otters

McDavid Can't Lift Otters past Soo

April 23, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario - Despite coming back from a 3-0 deficit with a natural hat trick from Connor McDavid, the Otters fell 6-3 to Sault Ste. Marie in game one of the Western Conference Final Thursday night on the road.

Even thought the Otters held an early shot lead, the Greyhounds picked up the early scoring lead after a goal from Bryan Moore just over six minutes in rang past Devin Williams. It took another 43 seconds for Jean Dupuy to extend the Soo lead to 2-0 after an Otters turnover. Brandon Halverson went to work at the other end of the ice, stopping multiple Erie chances, including a big one from McDavid.

In the Otters zone, Williams made a big save on Nick Ritchie to keep the Greyhounds from pulling further ahead. The Otters had a big five-on-three opportunity to close out the first after staggered minor penalties. Nick Baptiste was robbed by Halverson early on a shot that nearly trickled over the net, but the Soo netminder dropped to cover it just along the goal line.

With the Greyhounds killing both minors, Travis Dermott had the next big chance, but the puck hit Halverson's pad. Halverson continued to dominate the crease, stopping chances for Kyle Maksimovich, Nick Betz and Baptiste. With the Greyhounds on the power play, Justin Bailey got even for an earlier save, putting the puck behind Williams for a 3-0 lead. The Otters drew a four minute power play with just over five minutes to go and, with time winding down, McDavid got to the side of the net and put the puck behind Halverson to get the Otters on the board.

It took McDavid 16 seconds into the third to bring the Otters within one on the power play. Bailey was caught playing with a broken stick at nearly the same time as the goal and sent to the box with a minor. Back on the power play, McDavid finished the natural hat trick, tying the game at three fifty seconds after his second. Despite Otters chances, Gustav Guertler gave the Soo the go-ahead goal, making it 4-3 nearly three and a half minute into the period. 

The Otters killed a charging penalty to Dermott and play went back and forth to both ends of the ice. Ritchie raced in, setting up between the circles and gave the Greyhounds a two-goal lead. Williams was called to the bench for an extra attacker with time winding down, but Guertler found the empty net, making it 6-3 with his second of the night, finishing off game one.

The Otters outshot the Greyhounds 42-32, racking up 16 shots in both the second and third periods. Baptiste picked up two assists in the loss - second to McDavid's three goals - with four other Otters picking up assists. The hat trick is McDavid's second of the playoffs after a five-goal game against the London Knights in the second round.

Game two of the Western Conference Final is Friday night in Sault Ste. Marie, with the series coming to Erie Sunday night in a white out game at 7 p.m.

The Iron Workers Local Union No. 3 Ironmen of the Game:

1. Bryan Moore - 1G, 1A

2. Gabe Guertler - 2G, 1A

3. Connor McDavid - 3G

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from April 23, 2015


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