Sports stats



OHL Erie Otters

Deadline Acquisitions Pay Off in 6-3 Otters Victory

January 10, 2017 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


With Dylan Strome, Erik Cernak, and Taylor Raddysh rejoining the team after the World Junior Championships, the Otters met Kitchener in Erie looking to avenge a 5-2 loss to the Rangers on January 1st. New acquisitions Anthony Cirelli and Warren Foegele were on the roster to start the night, though Cameron Lizotte, whom the Otters had acquired just the night previous, was unable to make it to Erie. The Otters' deadline acquisitions played a large part in their 6-3 victory over the Rangers, as Foegele scored a goal and Cirelli acquired an assist during the game.

Both teams played an upbeat, attacking style of play in the first period, though neither the Otters or Rangers managed to beat the goaltenders through twenty minutes. Luke Opilka, the St. Louis Blues prospect and Kitchener starting goaltender, made 10 saves on 10 shots to stymie the Otters' high-powered offense. Two of his saves included a tough Anthony Cirelli drive to the net, in which Opilka stopped the puck with his pad just before it passed the goal line; and a Dylan Strome breakaway late in the period, keeping the game scoreless into the second period. Troy Timpano, starting again for the Otters, made 5 saves on 5 shots in the first.

Just past the halfway mark of the second period, Kitchener finally broke through the Erie defense and Timpano to score: Joseph Garreffa slipped through the Otters defenders, drove the far post, and backhanded the puck five-hole as Timpano slid across the crease. The Rangers took the 1-0 lead off Garreffa's single-man effort, but the Otters came right back to tie the game just over a minute later. Warren Foegele, a trade deadline acquisition from the Kingston Frontenacs, hopped off the Erie bench, took a stretch-pass from Gera Poddubnyi, and rifled the puck through Opilka to tie the game at one. Then, on the power play, DeBrincat fired a laser beam just outside the slot, beating Opilka cleanly and giving Erie the 2-1 lead. On the very next shift, Dylan Strome deflected a point-shot from Darren Raddysh to secure the two goal advantage for Erie. However, with under one second left in the period, Darby Llewellyn scored for the Rangers to claw them back within one.

Kitchener scored early in the first period, after Erie's Darren Raddysh was called for a blindside hit. Connor Bunnaman was credited with the Rangers' goal, and the game was tied 3-3 with sixteen minutes remaining in the period. Minutes later, however, Taylor Raddysh streaked in on the wing and beat Opilka short-side to regain the lead for Erie. Kyle Maksimovich increased the Otters' lead to two late in the game when he completed a tic-tac-toe passing play by firing the puck over Opilka's shoulder. Anthony Cirelli picked up his first point in an Otters uniform by setting up Maksimovich's goal, securing the 6-3 victory for Erie.

For the Otters, Alex DeBrincat scored two goals; Dylan Strome scored a goal and two assists; Taylor Raddysh scored a goal and three assists; and Troy Timpano made 12 saves on 15 shots in the Erie victory.

Adam Mascherin was credited with two assists for the Rangers, and Luke Opilka made 21 saves on 27 shots in the loss for Kitchener.

The Otters remain at home to face the Ottawa 67's on Friday, January 13.

Check out the Erie Otters Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2017


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