Erie gets three in third period, dump Whalers, 4-3

Published on December 30, 2005 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP - The Erie Otters scored three unanswered goals in the third period to overcome a 3-1 deficit and defeat the Plymouth Whalers, 4-3, in an Ontario Hockey League game played Friday night before 3,043 at the Compuware Sports Arena.

Third period goals by Adam Berti (19th of the season at 3:09), Anthony Peluso (4th of the year at 7:44) and Jordan Nolan (2nd of the season at 14:19) gave Erie the victory and spoiled the first OHL start by Plymouth rookie goaltender Jeremy Smith (Brownstown Township), who played well in stopping 35 of 39 Otter shots. Smith - the Whalers' 4th round pick in last spring's OHL draft - had played in two games in relief prior to this evening's start.

First star Chris Greene scored Erie's first goal, his 6th of the season in the second period.

Tom Sestito (7th), Mike Letizia (8th) and Jared Boll (13th) scored for Plymouth, while Evan Brophey and John Vigilante added two assists apiece.

After a scoreless first period, Sestito gave Plymouth their first lead with a power play goal at 10:57 of the second period. Greene came right back at 13:06 of the second period to tie the game at 1-1, but Plymouth replied with goals by Letizia at 14:35 and Boll at 17:17 of the second period to lead 3-1 after forty minutes.

Although the shots on goals were even in the game at 39 apiece, Erie outshot Plymouth, 21-9, in the decisive third period.

In spite of the loss, the Whalers remain in first place in the OHL West Division with a record of 19-12-1-3, good for 42 points. Plymouth is two points ahead of the Saginaw Spirit (20-14-0-0), who won Friday night, 3-2 in a shootout, in Sudbury. The Spirit plays Saturday night in Barrie.

Plymouth next plays New Year's Day in Windsor at 2:00 pm (1:50 pm, www.plymouthwhalers.com) and then plays three on the road next week, next Thursday in Barrie (7:20 pm, www.plymouthwhalers.com), next Friday in Sudbury (7:20 pm, www.plymouthwhalers.com) and Sat. Jan. 7 in Sault Ste Marie (7:20 pm, www.plymouthwhalers.com) before returning home Wed, Jan. 11 to host Saginaw at 7:30 pm at the Compuware Sports Arena (7:30 pm, Comcast Local).

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 30, 2005


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