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OHL Erie Otters

Gaudreau Stops 25 in Sarnia Homecoming, Terrance's Pair Lifts Otters to 5-3 Win

November 5, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Erie Otters goaltender Ben Gaudreau
Erie Otters goaltender Ben Gaudreau
(Erie Otters, Credit: Natalie Shaver)

Sarnia, Ontario - With a three-game road weekend well underway for the Erie Otters, the team would look to put a bow on the road trip on a Sarnia Sunday. Erie would ride wins in Saginaw (6-5) and Flint (4-3 SO) into the rematch with the Sting. Looking to avenge a 6-4 loss on home ice to Sarnia a couple weeks back, Erie would have the chance to continue its success on the road. This would be an extra special game for Otters goaltender Ben Gaudreau, who would not only play in his 150th career Ontario Hockey League game, but also play against Sarnia in Sarnia for the first time in his career.

Despite Erie being outshot 5-0 to start the game, it would be the Erie Otters who would find the first goal of the game. Owain Johnston would attempt to shoot from the blue line, but his stick would break and the puck would find its way to Pano Fimis, and eventually Sam Alfano (7) who would strike from point blank range, just 4:10 in. Erie's success would continue with the only power play opportunity of the first period, but be unable to convert. Immediately following the conclusion of the attempted power play, Bruce McDonald (5) would earn goals in consecutive games to put Erie up 2-0 near the halfway mark of the period. Ben Gaudreau would stop 10/10 in the period, and the Erie Otters would take their 2-0 lead into the second period, being outshot 10-7.

A high-shooting, high-scoring period would see both teams earn a pair of goals, with Erie maintaining a two-goal lead. The second would start with an early goal from Jacob LeBlanc (3) just 3:24 into the new frame. Erie would respond immediately after, as Martin Misiak (9) would net his fifth power play goal of the year on Erie's first shot of the period to go up 3-1. With Erie on the penalty kill, Malcolm Spence and Carey Terrance (10) would race up the ice together, and the latter would net a goal just as the penalty would expire to put Erie up 4-1. Late in the frame, Sarnia would find themselves on a five-on-three power play, and after an initial penalty was killed, Tyson Doucette (10) would give the Sting a spark heading into the final frame. Erie would hold a 4-2 lead heading into period three, despite being outshot 14-10 in the second.

Looking for their first three-game weekend sweep in over a year, Erie would take care of business in the third period - eventually. Sarnia would stick around for most of the period, but put the heat on the Otters as Easton Wainwright (2) would strike 8:12 gone by. The Otters would finally put it out of reach 4:02 later as Carey Terrance (11) would net his second goal of the game, and Erie would take a 5-3 lead. The Otters would outshoot Sarnia for the first time of the night in the third, 8-4, and get the job done, 5-3. This would be Erie's first all-road three-game sweep since February 2017, as Erie improves to .500 for the first time in the 2023-24 season at 7-7-2.

The stretch of three game weekends and games on the road takes a temporary recess, as the Erie Otters enjoy seven of the next eight games on home ice. Erie will enjoy an extended break before hosting the Sudbury Wolves for the only time this season on Friday, November 10 for 3-2-1 Friday. All fans in attendance will be able to take advantage of $3 Labatt Blue drafts (21+), $2 hot dogs, and $1 popcorns. On Saturday evening, Erie hosts the Flint Firebirds for Military Appreciation Night. Erie will take the ice in pregame in specialty military warm-up jerseys, with the post-game auctions proceeds benefitting Disabled American Veterans Chapter 73.

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Images from this story

Erie Otters goaltender Ben Gaudreau
Erie Otters goaltender Ben Gaudreau
(Natalie Shaver)		   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 5, 2023


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