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OHL Erie Otters

Erie's Third Period Comeback Bid Falls Just Short against Kingston

February 25, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Erie Otters react after a goal against the Kingston Frontenacs
Erie Otters react after a goal against the Kingston Frontenacs
(Erie Otters)

Erie, Pennsylvania - For the final time in the 2023-24 season, the Erie Otters would play a foe they had yet to play during the regular season. With the Kingston Frontenacs in town for a Sunday Family Funday, Erie would play its first of two against a very similar team to them in six days. Coming off an emotional come-from-behind victory on Saturday night against Guelph, Erie would look to continue its home success in looking to slow down a Kingston team that won by seven goals the previous night. Valuable points on the line for two hungry teams to close out the weekend!

The first period would begin with a quick Frontenac goal, with Linus Hemström (18) finding the back of the net twenty-five seconds into the game. The Otters would start their penalty kills off strong, continuing last night's eight successful kills against the Guelph Storm, and go on their first power play of the game with twelve minutes left in the period. Easton Rye in net for the first time in an Otters jersey would settle in quickly after an early goal and help keep it a one-goal game. It would be eleven minutes later that Linus Hemström (19) would strike again for Kingston on a short-handed goal to extend the Frontenac lead 2-0 over the Otters. The Otters would be able to get on the board thanks to a short-handed Bruce McDonald (14) goal and cut the lead in half. The score would remain 2-1 going into the second period and shots would be tied at eight a piece.

It would be another back-and-forth start to the second period with the Otters working to carry some momentum into the frame and the Frontenacs looking to maintain the lead. At 7:48, Paul Ludwinski (19) for Kingston would find the back of the net and make it a 3-1 game for the Frontenacs. The rest of the second period would pass by scorelessly, with only one penalty from both teams. It would be a low-shooting period for the teams as well, with the Otters only putting up seven in the period and the Frontenacs having six.

Desperate to get something started in the third, the Otters would come out strong. They'd log a quick shot less than ten seconds into the period and keep their foot on the gas. Bruce McDonald (15) would find his second goal of the night just over four minutes into the period and bring the score to 3-2. Kingston would retaliate about ninety seconds later, with Quinton Burns (6) finding the back of the net. Not to be counted out, the Otters and Malcolm Spence (17) would strike again less than two minutes later and bring the score to 4-3. With momentum back in their favor, the Otters would continue to press the Frontenacs until they found their third goal in the third period. It would be Pano Fimis (19) to sneak one past Kingston goaltender JJ Salajko and tie the game up at 4-4. The Otters would go on the penalty kill and Matthew Soto (19) for the Frontenacs would capitalize on the man advantage and put Kingston back on top, 5-4. Desperate to push this game into overtime and running out of time, the Otters would pull Easton Rye, but a long shot from Linus Hemström (20) would give him the hat trick and the Kingston Frontenacs a 6-4 win. The Otters would lead in shots 24-18 after a big third period and come short of completing a second comeback victory in a row.

Erie will close out February as it embarks on the Eastern Swing. The trip will begin on Leap Day Thursday in Peterborough, at Kingston on Friday, and in Ottawa on Sunday. This will represent the final big trip of the 2023-24 regular season for the Erie Otters. and begin a countdown to single-digit games remaining ahead of Erie's vying for a post-season berth.

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Images from this story

Erie Otters react after a goal against the Kingston Frontenacs
Erie Otters react after a goal against the Kingston Frontenacs
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2024


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