OHL Erie Otters

Luciani fools Spitfires in 6-5 OT win

Published on April 1, 2011 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Anthony Luciani scored four goals, including the overtime winner to give the Erie Otters a 6-5 win over the Windsor Spitfires in Game 5 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals and force a Game 6 Sunday afternoon in Erie.

Luciani scored four minutes, three seconds into overtime as he picked the pocket from Ryan Ellis behind the Windsor net and fired a backhander under Jack Campbell to set off a celebration from the Erie bench and silence a stunned Windsor crowd.

The Otters went on the board seven minutes, 11 seconds into the game on a play that begin with a big hit by David Shields on Alex Khokhlachev in the Erie zone. Shields found Varone on an outlet pass into the Windsor zone, and Varone fired a shot that was redirected by Luciani for his second goal of the playoffs.

Adrian Robertson scored three minutes, 34 seconds into the second to tie the game for the Spitfires, but after that the Otters power play went to work, scoring three times in the second to give the Otters a 4-1 lead. Varone began the assault with a shot from the slot that rocketed over the right shoulder of Jack Campbell for his second goal of the postseason at 8:55.

Derek Holden scored at 11:15 as he blasted a shot though a screen by Brett Thompson for his first goal of the series. Varone made a great play to set up Erie's fourth goal, as he dived to his left to keep the puck in the Windsor zone at the right point. Varone fired a pass while on his back to Holden, who unleashed a shot from the left point that was deflected by Luciani for his second goal of the game at 16:00.

The Spitfires scored four minutes, 40 seconds into the third period as Khokhlachev scored on the power play to make it a 4-2 game. Luciani answered back 70 seconds later with his hat trick goal, the first Otters hat trick in the playoffs since Cory Pecker scored three against Windsor on April 21, 2002.

Unfortunately for Erie, the Spitfires scored three unanswered goals to force overtime, including a pair scored 41 seconds apart with less than four minutes remaining.

Luciani ended the game with a crucial steal to salvage the win, and cap off a great effort on the road. Luciani tied a team record with four goals in a playoff game, as Brad Boyes achieved the same feat on April 13, 2002. Varone had a goal and four assists for the Otters, the first five-point night since Boyes on April 3, 2002.

Not to be lost in the offensive showdown, Ramis Sadikov was spectacular with 50 saves, six shy of the team record by Josh Disher set on March 25, 2005.

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

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2011


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