OHL Erie Otters

Cazzola Tallies Hat Trick As Otters Stop Attack In 8-2 Win

Published on February 24, 2010 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


The Erie Otters (30-24-5-2) showed it's not how you start, but it's how you finish.

Erie scored seven unanswered goals, including a hat trick from Mike Cazzola, after a sluggish opening period and easily disposed of eighth place Owen Sound 8-2 Wednesday night at the Tullio Arena.

The eight goals were the second highest total of the season, as the Otters put nine on the board in a home game against Niagara on Nov. 6, and it was the third time this season the Otters scored five goals in a period this season.

With the win, the Otters remained in a deadlock for fifth place in the Western Conference with Sault Ste. Marie, who beat Saginaw on Wednesday as well.

The Attack scored the lone goal in the very choppy, slow-playing first period as both teams had trouble finding an offensive rhythm.

Myles Doan gave Owen Sound an early 1-0 lead as he put home a rebound off a Marcus Carroll shot from the right circle at 4:17. Mike Halmo picked up the secondary assist on the play.

The Otters outshot the Attack 12-7 in the frame and had several opportunities to tie the game, but couldn't find the back of the net.

Otters goalie Adam Courchaine, who was named the Boston Pizza OHL Player of the Week on Monday, stopped six of the seven shots he faced.

In a much more entertaining middle frame, the Otters showed their power with the man advantage.

After a Bobby Mignardi interference penalty, Otters forward Greg McKegg displayed his fancy stick-handling and patience, which led to the Otters first goal.

McKegg stayed unwearied as he was being pressured on the right boards, waiting for defenseman Derek Holden to sneak down the left side from the point, before putting a pin-point accurate pass on Holden's stick, which he tapped into an empty net at 4:22.

It was Holden's ninth goal of the year, while McKegg picked up his 40th assist on the season. Captain Zack Torquato collected his 54th helper on the play as well.

But the Attack would have answer back on the man advantage as Garrett Wilson put a laser in the top shelf of the net over Courchaine's glove to restore their one goal lead. Steven Shipley picked up the lone assist on the goal at 8:15.

But after that, it was all Otters for the final 32 minutes of regulation.

Erie made the Attack pay once again on the man advantage, as Cazzola deflected a Holden slap shot from the point, which went in between the legs of Attack net minder Scott Stajcer - a New York Rangers draftee - at 12:04 to knot the contest at two.

Less than three minutes later, the Otters put together sharp passing on a three-on-one that resulted in Andrew Yogan's 25th goal of the season. Shawn Szydlowski started the rush at center ice after an Attack turnover, found a streaking Anthony Luciani on the right side, who dropped the puck back to Yogan, who fired the puck on the from the hash marks to make it 3-2 Erie heading into the final period.

Syzdlowski's assist extended his consecutive point-scoring streak to 10 games.

It didn't take long for the Otters to push its lead to two as Cazzola picked up his second goal of the game and his 31st of the season just 53 seconds into the third.

McKegg once again showed his playmaking abilities as he took the puck hard to the net, took a vicious hit and found Cazzola on the top of the crease for an easy tap in mark. Defenseman Paul Cianfrini picked up his 17th point of the season with the secondary assist.

After that, the floodgates opened for the Otters, as they would score five goals in the final frame to coast to an 8-2 victory.

Szydlowski would net his 18th goal of the season after a pretty curl-and-drag move before roofing the puck over the shoulder of Stajcer for an unassisted mark at 9:40.

Just under two minutes later, Holden dumped a puck in from the red line that got past the obviously rattled Stajcer for his second goal of the game at 11:19 to make it 6-2.

The Otters wouldn't take the foot of the pedal, as Cazzola tipped in his third goal of the game at 18:26 for his first career OHL hat trick. The usual suspects picked up the assists in Torquato and McKegg.

For good measure, Luciani put his 30th goal of the season past Stajcer with just 55 seconds to go in the contest, becoming the third Otter to register at least 30 goals this season.

In all, five Otters collected at least two points, while Cazzola took first star honors with his hat trick. Holden earned the second star, while Szydlowski took the third star.

The Otters are off Friday, before returning to the Tullio Arena Saturday evening against the Ottawa 67's, scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start. The first 2,500 fans will receive a coupon for free Cinnamon Twists, courtesy of Taco Bell.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, the Tullio Arena box office, ottershockey.com or by calling 452-4857.

Fans can listen to game action on Fox Sports Radio AM 1330 The Fan and ottershockey.com, starting at 6:45 p.m. with the pre-game show.

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

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 24, 2010


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