OHL Erie Otters

Otters Demolish Knights on the Road in 9-4 Win

December 10, 2010 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


The return of Phil Varone to London proved to be beneficial for the Erie Otters (15-14-1-1), who put an empathic end to their 29-game winless streak at John Labatt Centre with an impressive 9-4 win over the Knights Friday night. Shawn Szydlowski picked up his third hat trick of the season in the contest to lead the Otters.

Varone made his presence felt early in his old rink as the former Knight put the Otters on the board 3:41 into the contest. After a turnover by Reid McNeill to Anthony Luciani in the Knights zone, Varone took a pass in the slot and fired it between the legs of Michael Houser for his 11th goal of the season.

Szydlowski, who has had great success over the last two seasons against the Knights, scored a great shorthanded goal at 13:07 to give the Otters a two-goal lead as he barged through the Knights defense in the slot and fired a shot on the short side of Houser for his team leading 15th of the season.

Just over two minutes later, Luciani drilled a shot into the open net during the power play from the right circle that spelled the end of Houser's night. The goal was Luciani's 10th of the season at 15:11. Houser then left the game for Igor Bobkov.

The Knights came out storming in the second period with 12 shots to begin the frame, the last of which was put in by Colin Martin to send thousands of stuffed animals onto the ice at 4:58.

The delay proved beneficial to the Otters, who picked up their play. Szydlowski picked up his second of the game after a great feed by Greg McKegg to the left circle, where Szydlowski sneaked a shot between the legs of the Igor Bobkov at 8:41. Unhappy with his goaltender, Dale Hunter pulled Bobkov in favor of original starter Houser after the goal.

The Otters continued their attack on the power play, as Luciani redirected a pass from Szydlowski between the legs of Houser for his second of the game at 10:07. Szydlowski then completed his hat trick at 13:40 on a shot from the top of the right circle that found the five-hole.

Connor Crisp then had a shift to remember as the rookie scored his first OHL goal at 18:07 of the second. After Chris Marchese's shot went off the pad of Houser, Crisp knocked in the rebound into an open net during the power play for his first career tally, giving the Otters a 7-1 lead into the third period.

At the start of the third, Hunter again changed netminders with Bobkov back in net for London. The Knights fired back midway through the third with two goals of their own, until David Broll scored his 5th of the season off of his own rebound at 14:43.

Chris Tierney scored his first goal in the OHL 16 seconds later to put the Knights back within four at 8-4, but Kris Grant's first career OHL goal on a blast from the top of the left circle on the power play completed the scoring at 17:09 to give the Otters a 9-4 decision. The win was the Otters' first at John Labatt Centre since December 27, 2002, ending a 29-game winless streak.

The power play was impressive for Erie, going 4-for-8. Szydlowski (3g, 1a) and Luciani (2g, 2g) each had four-point games for the Otters, while Varone picked up a goal and an assist in his return to London. The nine goals on the road were the most in nearly 12 years, when the Otters defeated the Toronto St. Michael's Majors, 10-1, on January 10, 1999.

The Otters continue on the road to Owen Sound where they will battle the No. 9 CHL-ranked Attack at 7:30 p.m. Fans can listen to the broadcast on Fox Sports Radio AM 1330 The Fan or online at ottershockey.com (courtesy of the James H. Cross Company) starting at 7:15 p.m. with the Toyota Pregame Show.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 10, 2010


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