OHL Erie Otters

Otters Drop Game 2 To Windsor, 3-1

Published on March 21, 2010 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


The Erie Otters outplayed the Windsor Spitfires for the majority of Game 2 of the OHL's Western Conference Quarterfinals. But, at the end of the game, the Otters were behind on the scoreboard and now in a huge hole, as the club dropped a 3-1 decision, putting the Otters down 2-0 in the best of seven series.

Both teams were physical from the start of the opening period, as defense and body checks were the name of the game in the first 20 minutes.

The Otters outplayed the reigning and defending Memorial Cup Champions in the frame, but a late goal by Taylor Hall - the potential first overall pick in this June's NHL Entry Draft - with 38 seconds remaining put the Spitfires ahead 1-0 going into the second period.

A clean faceoff win from Scott Timmins, a Florida Panthers draftee, started the play as the draw went back to Ryan Ellis on the point, who quickly passed to Marc Cantin on the right point. Cantin fired a shot low on the ice through traffic before Hall dashed towards the left of the crease and deflected home his first goal of the playoffs past Otters goalie Adam Courchaine.

Philipp Grubauer was busy in between the pipes for the Spits, as the Otters fired 15 pucks in his direction, but couldn't beat the Germany-born goalie.

The Otters went 0-for-2 with the man advantage in the first, while the defense held its ground, allowing just six Windsor shots. The second period opened up with a golden opportunity for the Otters to tie the score as a loose puck found its way to a wide open Zack Torquato, who dangled Grubauer, but lost control of the puck with a wide open cage just a minute into the frame.

But when Torquato had redemption on his stick, he made sure he found the back of the net as he put his first goal of the playoffs past Grubauer at the 4:10 mark.

A nice outlet pass from Derek Holden to Anthony Luciani started a two-on-one with Torquato. Luciani was patient with the puck and found Torquato just inside the hash marks before tipping it over a sprawling Grubauer to knot the game at one. Then, with momentum in their corner, the Otters committed the Cardinal Sin against Windsor - penalties.

Erie took three penalties in a span of a minute and 11 seconds to give the Spitfires and two man advantage for over three minutes.

But the Otters, who were pressured in their zone for the duration of the penalties, keep the puck out of the net and brought the fans to their seats against one of the top power-play's in the OHL in the regular season.

As quickly as the Otters stole the momentum, the Spitfires took it back, as Dale Mitchell took a pass from Scott Timmins and went one-on-one with Courchaine as the Otters were caught in a line change. Mitchell beat Courchaine through the legs and put Windsor up 2-1 at the 17:28 mark.

In the third, Windsor played dump-and-defense hockey as it limited the Otters scoring chances and stymied the Otters offense for the second straight game.

The lone goal in the frame came from Hall, who was left alone at the Otters blue line before defenseman Cam Fowler fed him a pass to give Hall a breakaway.

Hall was stopped on his first shot, but the rebound stayed put and he eventually flipped it into the top of the net, giving the Spitfires a 3-1 win and a 2-0 lead in the series. Holden was the games third star, while Hall and Mitchell rounded out the two and one slots, respectively.

Game Three will be played Tuesday night in Windsor, scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. start. Fans can listen to game action on Fox Sports Radio AM 1330 The Fan and ottershockey.com, starting at 6:50 p.m. with the pre-game show.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2010


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