OHL Erie Otters

Luciani nets hat trick in 8-3 rout over Knights

Published on March 13, 2010 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


An Anthony Luciani hat trick and a five goal second period were the keys for the Erie Otters in an 8-3 season-ending victory over the London Knights in front of a raucous crowd of 5,304 at Tullio Arena Saturday night.

The first period got off to a roaring start for the Otters as they scored twice in 18 seconds. Luciani converted on a wraparound under the right pad of London goalender Michael Houser at 1:45 and Brady Austin shoveled a backhander from the right circle off the blocker of Houser at 2:03 to give the Otters an early two-goal lead.

The Knights nullified the deficit with two goals 1:51 apart as Justin Taylor put London on the board at 8:55 and Michael MacDonald followed at 10:46. The Otters regained the lead at 16:32 as Luciani fired a wrist shot from the slot on the power play for his second marker of the game.

The second period was an Otters offensive explosion. It started 3:10 into the frame as Mitch Gaulton powered a shot from the high slot off the stick of a London defender and over the right shoulder of Houser for his fifth goal of the season.

Luciani followed up 62 seconds later with his third hat trick goal of the season, as Appio's shot off the end boards found the stick of Luciani at the side of the net, and he put it home over the left pad of Houser for his team-leading 38th goal of the season at 4:12.

Zack Torquato scored a goal in his final regular season game at Tullio Arena with the setup from his partners in crime, Mike Cazzola and Greg McKegg. Torquato teed off from the bottom of the left circle on a pass from Cazzola to put home his 31st of the season at 13:41.

The Otters then received a two-man advantage, and were able to convert on both ends, as Shawn Szydlowski notched his 21st goal of the season at 16:17 and David Broll followed up with his ninth of the year at 17:06.

MacDonald scored a consolation goal for the Knights 6:07 into the third to produce the final result of 8-3. The Otters went 3-for-6 on the power play and a perfect 7-of-7 on the penalty kill. The Otters grabbed the shot advantage over London, 34-33.

Depending on Saginaw's result in Plymouth tomorrow, the Otters will face either the Knights, Kitchener Rangers, or Windsor Spitfires in the first round of the OHL Playoffs. A full playoff schedule will be released when the opponent is determined.

Otters playoff tickets start going on sale Monday at 10:00 a.m.! Don't miss out on your chance for the Otters to battle for the J. Ross Robertson Cup on home ice when they play Game 2 Sunday, March 21 at 4:30 p.m. against an opponent to be determined. For information on playoff ticket packages or season tickets for the 2010-11 regular season, contact the Otters' office at 455-7779.

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 March 13, 2010


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