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OHL Erie Otters

Despite 47-Save Night, Kitchener Prevails in OT for 3-2 Series Lead

April 5, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Kitchener, Ontario - Home ice advantage wouldn't be decisive for either team in the first round series, with an evened series at 2-2 after the first four games. As a result, a hugely consequential game five would take place on Friday night back in The Aud with a chance for the winning team to go in for match point next Tuesday. Erie would ride the hot glove of Ben Gaudreau in an effort to take the series lead for the first time.

Unique compared to the game starts of most of the series, game five's first period would be a scoreless one. Either side would see double-digit shots - 12-10 in favor of Kitchener - but the respective netminders would stand on their heads for shutout firsts. Erie would go 0-1 on the only power play of the first, as a scoreless affair would end the first.

A return to form in some senses would begin the second period; offensive form, at least! 3:30 into the new frame, Tanner Lam (1) would net his first playoff goal to give Kitchener a 1-0 lead. That lead? Wouldn't last for even :23, as Pano Fimis (3) would respond immediately to make it a 1-1 game. Kitchener would dominate down the stretch with an 18-7 shot advantage in the second, and the only power play of the frame, but a near-perfect period from Ben Gaudreau would keep it knotted at ones after 40. Kitchener would lead in shots 30-17.

The third period - not just a swing period, but a period that could help decide who could finish the series in game six. With all the pressure in the world on either side, Kitchener's offense would get the shots flying first. With pressure kept alive, Matthew Sop (3) would put the Rangers up once more with 7:12 gone by. Needing a hero before the halfway mark of the period, it would be the second-half hero Dylan Edwards (5) with yet another post-season goal to knot things up 2-2. After this tying goal, it would be a desperation rush to try and jump ahead. Erie would control the pressure in the closing minutes, but the two goaltenders would stand tall when it counted and prevent another puck from crossing in regulation - taking the series to overtime for the second time.

Sudden-death overtime: take two. Whoever would take the final goal in the game, would only need to win one of the final two games to meet the London Knights in round two. It would once again be the Rangers who would control the offensive flow to start, but Gaudreau would come up big in the effort of heroics. Erie would transition the puck to their favor offensively, and begin their work of peppering Jackson Parsons. As the extra period waned on, the exhaustion began to show for either side, prompting both coaches to take their timeouts ahead of the lone media timeout of overtime. As Kitchener's pressure began to amount into opportunities, the latest returning Ranger in the series Trent Swick (1, GWG) would pick the perfect time to show up big - sneaking the game-winner in for Kitchener's 50th shot of the night and the game-winner. Erie would fall in OT for the second time in the post-season series, and head home trailing 3-2. Gaudreau's 47/50 night would earn him first star honors in the loss.

A rarity in the post-season awaits both teams after the conclusion of Friday night's game - a long break. The possibly decisive game six won't take place back in Erie until 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, April 9 as a result of schedule rearrangement due to traffic from the total solar eclipse in Erie. Should a game seven be deemed necessary, it will be in Kitchener on Wednesday, April 10 at 8:00 P.M._--

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