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OHL Erie Otters

Lockhart's Hat Trick Not Enough, Erie Falls to Saginaw 5-3

December 11, 2021 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Erie, Pennsylvania - After 16 of the first 23 games for the Erie Otters being played on the road, the calendar finally turns in favor of the Otters with 12 of the next time being played on home ice. The elongated, long-awaited home stand started on Saturday night, as the team hosted fellow Western Conference American foe, Saginaw, for the fifth meeting of the season. Erie and Saginaw had split the season series 2-2 thus far into the 2021 campaign, playing four in a row back to start the season.

Saginaw would control the offensive pace-of-play in the opening minutes of the first period, taking the first five shots against the Otters. 9:11 into the first period, Connor Lockhart (6) would find a small window of opening into the offensive end, dance to the front of the net, and fire the first shot of the period for Erie - and the first goal. Erie would hold a 1-0 lead through 19:58 of the game, but with exactly one second remaining the frame, Roberto Mancini (5) would fire one from the top of the right circle to make it 1-1 after one. Saginaw would lead in shots 10-9.

In the second period, Saginaw would once again continue its offensive prowess early on, but the shots would remain low to start the period. After a period with low offensive opportunities, power play opportunities would start to amount. Erie would get the first, but be unable to capitalize. Cameron Morton would go off for a cross-check, and the Saginaw Spirit would get their first power play opportunity. Saginaw would take full advantage of the man-advantage, with new-guy Justin O'Donnell (2) getting his first goal with the Spirit 13:40 into the frame. :25 later, Erie would response as Connor Lockhart (7) would net his second of the night and the Otters' second goal. Erie would take :35 of man-advantage time into the final period, tied 2-2 after 40. Saginaw would lead in shots 22-19.

The third period would be an absolutely thrilling ones for the fans, as the action would go up-and-down the ice. Nick Wong (8) would score just :63 into the period, as Saginaw would take a 3-2 lead early into the period. Canucks' prospect and Otters' forward Connor Lockhart (8) would score his hat-tossing third goal of the night for his first career hat trick to knot things back up 3-3. 3:29 later, Ian Phillips (2) would score in a tip in front for his second of the year, and the eventual game-winner. Erie would battle hard with a power play to close out the game, hitting both a crossbar and a goal post in the dying minutes, but Pavel Mintyukov (6) would find twine for the empty-net insurance goal. Saginaw would take the win, 5-3.

The weekend closes at home for the Erie Otters on Sunday afternoon, as they host the Sarnia Sting for the first time this season; the second-overall meeting of the year. Sarnia won 4-1 on home ice the last time the two met. Erie will welcome out mascots and organizations from all-around the tri-state area for Otto's Birthday Bash and Mascot Mania on Sunday.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 11, 2021


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