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Erie Otters

Otters 4, Spitfires 3

December 16, 2016 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


For their last game before the holiday break, the Erie Otters faced the Windsor Spitfires at Erie Insurance Arena on Friday, December 16. The Otters were missing captain Dylan Strome, OHL leading goal-scorer Alex DeBrincat, OHL leading points-scorer Taylor Raddysh, Erik Cernak, and Coach Kris Knoblauch, who were away at their respective World Juniors teams. The Spitfires weren't without their own subtractions, but the Otters managed to hold off Windsor for the 4-3 victory.

It took the Otters a few minutes to get rolling in the first period, but they eventually broke through Windsor goaltender Michael DiPietro--who entered the game with three straight shutouts under his belt--just seconds into their first powerplay of the game: Darren Raddysh nabbed the puck and fired it from the point, beating DiPietro and giving the Otters the 1-0 lead. The lead lasted less than two minutes, however, as Windsor's Cole Purboo tipped a shot from Mikhail Sergachev in front of the Erie net to tie the game at one. The goaltenders stood strong in the face of withering shots, but the Otters would score one more time with 48 seconds left as Christian Girhiny floated the puck through traffic and DiPietro. Erie left for the first intermission with the 2-1 lead.

The second period was scoreless until over fourteen minutes in, as goalies Timpano and DiPietro turned aside nearly every shot they faced. It was Erie's Ivan Lodnia who broke the lull in scoring, however, when he tapped a loose puck into the back of the net during a scramble in front of the Windsor net. DiGiacinto scored for the Spitfires shortly thereafter to make the game 3-2 heading into the third period.

It wasn't until 12:56 of the third period that a goal was scored: Ivan Lodnia, in alone on Michael DiPietro, snapped a shot five-hole for his second goal of the game and to give Erie the 4-2 lead. Sean Day scored for the Spitfires with the goaltender pulled, but the Otters hung on for the 4-3 victory.

Kyle Maksimovich assisted on two goals for the Otters; Darren Raddysh and Christian Girhiny each had goals; and Ivan Lodnia scored two goals and added an assist to his night. Troy Timpano made 33 saves on 36 shots for his OHL-leading 22nd win of the season.

For Windsor, Montreal Canadiens prospect Mikhail Sergachev had three assists; while Sean Day, Cole Purboo, and Christiano DiGiacinto each scored a goal. Michael DiPietro, who had a three-game shutout-streak coming into the game against the Otters, made 31 saves on 35 shots in the loss for Windsor.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 16, 2016


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