OHL Erie Otters

Brown Rallies Otters to 7-4 Win Over Brampton

February 3, 2012 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Erie, Pa. - Connor Brown scored the first hat trick of his career to fuel the Erie Otters' comeback over the Brampton Battalion Friday night in a 7-4 decision at Tullio Arena.

The Otters trailed 3-0 27 minutes into the game on a pair of goals by Brandon Robinson and another from Matt MacLeod. The Otters went on the board as Brown tallied his first of the game at 8:48 of the second, redirecting a Kris Grant shot through the glove of Keegan Wilson.

Rookie Stephen Harper scored his 16th goal of the season a minute and 20 seconds later to put the Otters within one. Harper knocked in a rebound from a Grant shot to make it a 3-2 game.

Adam Pelech, fresh off a good stint at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on Wednesday, tied the game for Erie with less than two minutes remaining in the second. Pelech ripped a slap shot from the left point that rang off the inside top corner of the net and back into play, but a good goal nonetheless for Pelech's second tally of the season.

The Otters took the lead midway through the third as Mac McDonnell deflected a Troy Donnay shot for his fifth goal of the season, the Otters' second power play marker of the game. Just over three minutes later, the Battalion tied the game at four as Sam Carrick scored his team-leading 26th of the season at 13:47.

Brown's second goal of the game would give the Otters the lead for good with 3:23 left to play. Travis Wood made a pin point pass to the side of the crease and Brown tapped the puck into the open net to make it 5-4, Erie.

McDonnell then added his second goal of the game 36 seconds later as he drove past Dylan Blujus into the Battalion zone and fired a shot over the right shoulder of Wilson to give the Otters at two-goal lead.

With 13.7 seconds remaining, Brown finished off the hat trick with an empty net goal, the first of his OHL career. The hat trick gives Brown 18 goals for the season, second among OHL rookies.

Luke Cairns picked up three assists for the Otters, who received another strong performance in net from Ramis Sadikov. The Russian goaltender made 45 saves to earn his first win since December 9. The Otters power play went 4-for-5 against the league's top penalty kill, and are a combined 9-for-14 in their last two games.

Saturday night, it's Team Poster Night presented by DRS of Erie and the Erie Times-News with a meet-and-greet following the game against the Saginaw Spirit. Both contests start at 7:00 p.m. For tickets, call 814-452-4857 or log on to ottershockey.com.

For further information contact the Erie Otters at 814-455-7779 or e-mail the Otters at paul@ottershockey.com.

Check out the Erie Otters Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 3, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central