OHL Erie Otters

First line leads Otters in 6-1 rout of Frontenacs

Published on January 30, 2010 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


The Erie Otters (23-21-5-2) took full advantage of Kingston Frontenacs head coach Doug Gilmour's decision to start a rookie goaltender instead of an NHL prospect.

The result - three first period goals against Frank Palazzese, who was making just his second start of his young OHL career, and a 6-1 shellacking of the Frontenacs in front of 4,808 cowbell ringing fans at the Tullio Arena.

The three-headed monster that is the first line of the Erie Otters - Mike Cazzola, Zack Torquato and Greg McKegg - each had three point nights and goalie Adam Courchaine stopped 33-of-34 Kingston shots to earn his second straight win and fourth overall as an Otter.

Erie came out of the gates on fire and controlled the pace as the club put three goals on the board in the opening 10 minutes.

The first came just 1:21 into the game as Anthony Luciani deposited his 23rd goal of the season into an empty net after some nifty passing from his line mates.

Andrew Yogan took a pass from Cazzola, Yogan then dangled a Kingston defenseman to create a two-on-one with Luciani, who he found on the right side of the crease for the games first goal.

Less than five minutes later, McKegg pushed the Otters lead to 2-0 as his centering pass went off the skate of a Frontenac player past Palazzese for his 22nd of the season - one of five Otters to score at least 20 goals this season.

Defenseman Paul Cianfrini's initial shot was blocked by Palazzese, but the rebound found McKegg who tried to pass it to Torquato, but the puck went off the skate of Jaroslav Kruzik into the net. Cazzola picked up the secondary assist on the marker at 4:54.

Torquato continued the goal parade with his 24th goal of the season as he walked in on Palazzese with a forehand-backhand move before he lifted the puck over the blocker and under the crossbar to extend the lead to 3-0.

McKegg got past a Kingston defenseman before he found Torquato wide open in the high slot. The assist gave McKegg 33 on the campaign, second on the team behind Torquato (44).

Kingston cut the deficit to two on a rebound goal by Joe Pleckaitis at 15:16. Tyler Doherty took a slap-shot from the point which Erie goaltender Adam Courchaine stopped, but couldn't control the rebound, that eventually was put past him between the wickets.

Erie outshot the Frontenacs 15-11 in the frame.

The Otters would regain their three goal lead and score the lone goal in a very defensive second period.

After the Otters killed off a power-play, Kingston's Cameron Odam took an interference infraction, which sent the Otters to their second man-advantage of the game.

Shawn Szydlowski controlled the puck on the left wall and found Derek Holden at the point, who fired a howitzer toward Palazzese, who was redirected by Cazzola for his team-best 25th goal of the season and his third point of the game at 16:19.

The teams struggled to find any offensive flow in the period, as the squads combined for just 14 shots, giving Erie a 22-19 advantage heading into third.

The Otters found their rhythm in the third as McKegg added his second goal of the game off a pass from Torquato at 8:37 and Jeremy Gotzzmann put the final Otters goal past Palazzese at 11:53, Torquato, and Stephen Genua earned the helpers or the sixth Erie goal.

Courchaine was the games third star, while McKegg and Cazzola rounded out the two and one slots, respectively.

The Otters will hit the road Thursday to battle the Brampton Battalion for a 7:00 p.m. clash. The Otters will return home Friday to take on the defending OHL and Memorial Cup champion Windsor Spitfires for a 7:00 p.m. clash.

Fans can listen to game action against the Battalion on Fox Sports Radio AM 1330 The Fan and ottershockey.com, starting at 6:45 p.m. with the pre-game show.

For further information contact the Erie Otters at 814-455-7779 or e-mail the Otters at paul@ottershockey.com.

Check out the Erie Otters Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 30, 2010


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