Hoffmann's Late Shorthanded Goal Not Enough in 4-3 Loss at Kitchener
Published on March 18, 2022 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release
Kitchener, Ontario - One last long weekend on the road for the Erie Otters welcomed the team back the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Friday night, looking to go 3-0 at "The Aud" this season. With Kitchener directly behind Erie in the standings, a playoff atmosphere would await either squad, with the Rangers looking for their first win of the season over Midwest Division foe Erie. Coming off a 3-1-1 homestand, capped by a road loss in Guelph on Monday night 4-3, the Erie Otters hoped to create separation for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
While the game would start slowly, as both teams would go through a feeling-out-process in a crucial game. After a low-shooting start, Erie would strike first blood as Brett Bressette (16) would shoot a puck in-and-out of the net 9:25 in to make it 1-0. It would only be 2:10 later that the Otters would strike again, as Connor Lockhart would force a turnover and feed Noah Sedore (14) in the low slot to make it a 2-0 game. With Erie controlling the faceoff dot to the tune of a 12-6 advantage, the Rangers would start to turn things around with shots, and find a goal on the power play from Joseph Serpa (16) to make it 2-1 after one - Erie would finish in shots, 9-8.
The second period would not work out in favor of the Otters, as shots would be a dead even 8-8. Erie would be unsuccessful in getting any shots off to start the power play that started the period. With a 2-1 game remaining in favor of the Otters at the halfway mark, it would be Andrew LeBlanc (3,4) who would net a pair against the Erie defense, and give Kitchener a tie 10:25 into the second, and a lead with 2:58 remaining. After 40 minutes, Erie would trail 3-2, but lead in shots 17-16.
Down by a goal to start the third period, the Otters would start their offensive attempts early, taking a 13-10 shots advantage from the third. With no success halfway into the frame, Erie would go off for a too-many-men penalty and find themselves on the penalty kill. :09 into the PK, Brendan Hoffmann (19) would score his second shorthanded-goal in as many games, and tie things up 3-3. Unfortunately for Erie, :52 later Justin Nolet (8) would capitalize on the power play, and the game would go back to a one-goal lead in favor of the Rangers. Erie would take a late penalty, and finish the game on the kill, unable to get a shot in the final two minutes. Kitchener would hold on to take a 4-3 win, despite being outshot 30-26.
Kitchener jumps Erie in the OHL Western Conference standings, holding in at the eighth and final playoff spot as it stands. The bus rolls further north for the Otters, as the team prepares for a pair in Owen Sound to close out the weekend. This will be the third and fourth meetings - as well as the final - of the season against the Owen Sound Attack, as Erie looks for the season-series sweep. Puck drops on Saturday night in Owen Sound at 7:30 P.M.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2022
- Knights Top Line Combines for 11 Points in 8-5 Loss to London - Saginaw Spirit
- Greyhounds Win Barn Burner 8-7 over Firebirds in Shootout - Flint Firebirds
- Rangers Top Otters 4-3 - Kitchener Rangers
- Hoffmann's Late Shorthanded Goal Not Enough in 4-3 Loss at Kitchener - Erie Otters
- Costantini Marvellous in Bulldogs 3-1 Victory - Brantford Bulldogs
- First-Place Firebirds Host Greyhounds in Big-Time Division Showdown Friday - Flint Firebirds
- Spirit Travel to London Friday Night - Saginaw Spirit
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