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OHL Erie Otters

Otters Begin Three-Game Road Trip

March 5, 2009 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League are playoff bound and now will concentrate on improving their playoff positioning as they continue regular season action with road games this weekend.

Friday in Sarnia the Otters face the Sting, a team they trail by two points for sixth in the Western Conference (prior to Sarnia's home game against the Guelph Storm on Thursday) standings. The game can be heard live on www.ottershockey.com (presented by the James H. Cross Company) beginning with the pre-game show at 7:15 p.m. and tape delayed in its entirety immediately following Gannon University playoff basketball on FOX Sports Radio AM 1330 The FAN.

Saturday afternoon the Otters travel to Kitchener to meet the Rangers at 2 p.m. The game can be heard live on FOX Sports Radio AM 1330 The FAN and on-line at www.ottershockey.com (presented by the James H. Cross Company) beginning with the pre-game show at 1:45 p.m.

The Otters enter the two road games as a playoff participant for the first time since 2004-05 thanks to a 3-1 victory over the Owen Sound Attack on Wednesday at the Tullio Arena. The win clinched a post-season spot for the Otters and lifted their record to 31-28-3-1 on the season. Ryan O'Reilly sparked a third-period comeback for the Otters against the Attack as he scored shorthanded to tie the game at one and then set up Shawn Szydlowski for a power-play goal that turned out to be the game winner. The two-point performance represented O'Reilly's second multi-point game in his last 13 contests and lifted the second forward back into the Otters team scoring lead with 15 goals and 46 assists for 61 points in 63 games.

The Sting enters Friday's game with a 31-25-3-3 record and two points up on the Otters (prior to a game Thursday) for sixth in the Conference standings.

Justin DiBenedetto leads Sarnia in scoring with 43 goals and 44 assists for 87 points in 56 games. The veteran forward's 43 goals are the second most in the OHL and his 87 points are the third most. The Sting is one of only four OHL teams that feature three or more 30-goal scorers, including Matt Martin (32) and Jamie Arniel (30).

Saturday the Otters face a Kitchener team that is on the verge of post-season elimination. The Rangers (24-33-3-2), who play a home-and-home series with London on Thursday and Friday, are a regulation loss or an Attack regulation win away from being officially on the outside looking in on the playoffs.

Chris MacKinnon leads the Rangers in scoring (and is ninth in the OHL) with 24 goals and 55 assists for 79 points in 61 games. The veteran forward's 55 helpers are fourth most in the OHL. Kitchener also features two productive rookies in Jason Akeson and Jeff Skinner. Akeson is tied for fourth in rookie scoring with 59 points while Skinner is 10th with 48 points.

The next Otters home games take place Saturday, March 14th and Sunday, March 15th.

Saturday, March 14th it's the Otters and the Kitchener Rangers in a 7 p.m. start at the Tullio Arena. All fans into the game will receive a free menu item courtesy of Taco Bell. Sunday, March 15th it's the Otters and the Guelph Storm in a special 4:30 p.m. start. It's Fan Appreciation Day presented by Erie Business Center and Green Prosthetics as the Otters celebrate St. Patrick's Day by wearing green jerseys and the two teams will compete on green ice!

Tickets for the games are available at the Civic Center Box Office, all Erie-area Ticketmaster locations, on-line at www.ottershockey.com or by calling 814-452-4857.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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