OHL Erie Otters

Otters Comeback to Earn Point in 8-7 Loss

Published on March 2, 2012 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Erie, PA - A three goal third period by the Erie Otters forced overtime against the Saginaw Spirit, who won in the shootout to pick up the two points in an 8-7 decision.

The Otters and Spirit traded a pair of goals in the first six and a half minutes. Michael Fine scored 1:23 into the game for the Spirit, and the Otters tied it up at 4:53 as Jake Evans scored his eighth goal of the season.

Brandon Saad scored shorthanded at 6:02 to put the Spirit back in front, but Connor Brown tied the game 19 seconds later with a power play goal.

The Spirit took a 3-2 lead at 11:58 on a Carlos Amestoy goal, and Eric Locke followed up at 14:04 to chase Ramis Sadikov from the net and complete the scoring in a busy first period.

Locke scored his second of the game 2:09 into the second frame. Luke Cairns continued his torrid pace with his 11th goal of the season at 4:13 to put the Otters within a pair.

Saad then scored his second shorthanded goal of the game at 6:49 to give the Spirit a 6-3 lead.

Brown added his second goal of the game with 2:10 left in the second with another power play goal, banging in a shot from the right circle. The Spirit answered back with a Josh Shalla tally 43 seconds later to take a 7-4 lead into the second intermission.

Sadikov re-entered the game for the Otters at the start of the third, as Devin Williams did not return from the Erie locker room. Sadikov returned to form by stopping all 11 Spirit shots in the final 25 minutes.

The goaltending came through at the right time, as Kris Grant began the Otters comeback with 8:50 remaining when his right from the right circle beat Clint Windsor for his second goal of the season.

Dane Fox then put the Otters within a goal minutes after he set off a frenzy after apparently scoring. Fox's shot that actually went off the post set off the goal horn, spotlight and crowd while play continued. Fox then scored for good with 5:04 to go with his 22nd goal of the campaign.

The Otters would tie the game with the extra attacker with 44.6 seconds to go as Jimmy McDowell's shot from the left circle deflected off the stick of Stephen Harper for the rookie's 20th goal of the season.

Amestoy scored the lone goal in the shootout to secure the second point for the Spirit the Otters nearly stole on home ice.

Brown (2g, 1a), Fox (1g, 2a) and McDowell (3a) each had three point nights for the Otters.

The Otters hit the road Sunday afternoon for a 2:00 p.m. contest against the Niagara IceDogs. Fans can listen to all the action on Fox Sports Radio AM 1330 The Fan.

Check out the Erie Otters Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2012


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