OHL Erie Otters

Brochu Stops 32 as Otters Fall 4-1

Published on December 3, 2021 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


London, Ontario - Coming off a massive win on Thursday night in Windsor, where the Erie Otters would score four-unanswered goals in the third period and OT to take a 5-4 win, Erie would invade the Budweiser Gardens for the first time this season. Friday night would be the second game of the season for Erie against London, after dropping a 7-4 game at home on November 13 - a game which the Otters lead by two at one point. Erie would look for revenge on the road against their most bitter-rival, who stands at the top of the Midwest Division, Western Conference, and Ontario Hockey League standings.

Erie would come out of the gates controlling the momentum, taking five of the first seven shots against the Knights. With an early power play in their favor, all seemed right for the Otters to be able to get on the scoresheet. The power play wouldn't see any shots, as London would easily kill it off. London would find a power play on their side, as Taeo Artichuk would go off for a tripping. It would take just six seconds for the Knights to score, as Colton Smith (12) would tip a Luke Evangelista shot through for a power play goal. Late in the first period, the Knights would race a puck into the offensive end, and Ruslan Gazizov (2) would rip a shot past the glove-side of Lalonde to make it 2-0 London. London would outshoot Erie 8-7 after 20.

Down 2-1 to start the second period, the Otters would come out firing to start the frame. With their fair share of opportunities early, the Otters efforts would finally be rewarded as overage-Forward Brendan Hoffmann (9) would score off a give-and-go with Connor Lockhart that would be returned back to him. 2-1 London, 3:00 into the second. Erie would continue to fire away in hopes of finding that tying-goal. Erie's momentum would be stiffled, as Nathan Sauder would head to the box for a hooking. While the Otters would kill off the penalty, the momentum would be gained by London, as Ruslan Gazizov (3) would takeaway a loose puck in the defensive, and race down the ice to beat Nolan Lalonde to retake a London two-goal lead. Erie and London would be even in goals-scored and shots in the period, but the Knights would remain in the lead after 40.

Despite outshooting the London Knights by five in the third period - a 12-7 difference - the Erie Otters would be unable to find the back of the net down by two. Bryce Montgomery (1) would add his first Ontario Hockey League goal past the halfway mark of the third period, and put the game on ice for a 4-1 London Knights victory. Erie would outshoot London 33-27 in the game. Saturday will be a rest day for the Erie Otters, as they ready for their first battle of the season against another CHL top 10 team in the Hamilton Bulldogs. Erie will close out its five-straight on the road on Wednesday as they travel to Flint to take on the Firebirds for the sixth time this season.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 3, 2021


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