Sports stats



OHL Erie Otters

Edwards Strikes Twice in OHL Playoff Debut, Erie Falls in Game One

March 29, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Kitchener, Ontario - Seven years in the making finally came to culmination on Friday night as the Erie Otters made their return to the Ontario Hockey League post-season. An all-too-familiar foe would await the Erie Otters, in divisional opponent Kitchener - the second all-time meeting in the playoffs against one another, and first since 2005. The season series was an odd one to say the least; while Kitchener did go 4-1-1 against Erie, three of these games went to overtime, and the Erie Otters won the last two meetings by 6-1 and 4-3 (OT) finals. Moreover, Erie would enter into the Friday night contest with five-straight wins under their belt, while the Rangers would enter with a streak in the opposite direction. Anticipation would be heavy in a long-awaited meeting, and with a packed-crowd on a Friday night, it would be game on.

Opening action would see the Kitchener Rangers feed off the rabid crowd at the Auditorium, ready to control home ice. The Rangers would strike for a pair of goals in the opening 10:30 from Lucas Ellinas (1) - his second opening goal against Erie in a week - and Matthew Sop (1), as it looked like Kitchener was become capable of holding time of possession. With their first power play opportunity of the post-season, it would be the second-half's hottest scorer Dylan Edwards (1, PPG) who would collect Erie's first playoff goal in seven years to make it a 2-1 game. The period would come to an end with Erie carrying over 1:57 of power play time, but down 2-1 and outshot 13-9.

The second period would be a more pedestrian one compared to the preceding or succeeding ones, as Kitchener would rack up shots - 11 total - and hold the Otters to just six shots. With a limited number of true offensive opportunities, Kitchener's Lucas Ellinas (2) would score his second of the evening to make it a 3-1 Kitchener lead with less than four minutes remaining - and through 40. Erie would trail 3-1, and be down in shots 24-15. A team that usually comes alive late, Erie would look for a big finish.

Erie would come out flying to start in the third period, taking seven of the first eight shots. Off one of those early shots, Dylan Edwards (2) would net his second goal of the night to bring it back down to a one-goal game again, 3-2 - just :35 into the period. With momentum riding to Erie, Eduard Sale (1, GWG) would get an incredibly well-placed tip on net to give the Rangers the two-goal lead back, 4-2, 4:09 in. Off the back of a failed five-on-three for Erie, Sam Alfano (1) - one of Erie's only players with post-season experience - would score a necessary goal to quiet a raucous crowd. With a one-goal game yet again, the final two goals would belong to Kitchener as Max Dirracolo (1) and Carson Rehkopf (1, PPG, ENG) would put the final nails in the Erie comeback effort. Erie would drop game one of the first round 6-3 - but show spots of brilliance they'll look to replicate in the second meeting.

The series stays in Kitchener, with game two taking place on Easter Sunday at 2:00 P.M. in the only afternoon start of the series - as Erie will look to even up the series. Home action in the playoffs begin for Erie on Tuesday evening at 7:00 P.M., as Erie plays its first home playoff game since winning the 2017 J. Ross Robertson Cup at the EIA. As part of Tuesday's festivities, the first 2000 fans in the arena will receive a free DEFEND THE DEN rally towel (pres. by Rebich Investments). There will also be a very special light and balloon display created by familiar friends at Rubber Ducky Balloon Designs, that will be up for game three and game four - which takes place at 7:00 P.M. on Thursday night. Should the series require a game five, it will be Friday, April 5 back in Kitchener.

Check out the Erie Otters Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2024


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