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OHL Erie Otters

Otters Fall to Spirit 4-2

January 7, 2017 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


The Erie Otters headed to Saginaw looking to pick up their third straight win of 2017; workhorse goaltender Troy Timpano made his 28th start of the season against the Spirit, facing off against New Jersey draft pick and Saginaw starting goalie Evan Cormier. Cormier stood tall and stymied Erie's high-powered offense as the Spirit defeated the Otters 4-2.

Saginaw pressured Erie early in the first period, putting four shots on goal within the opening minutes of the game. Minutes later, Saginaw's Markus Niemelainen drove the Erie net hard, took the pass on the backdoor from Kris Bennett, and tapped the puck past Timpano to give the Spirit an early 1-0 lead. The Otters surrendered two similar goals against Flint the night previous. Erie came right back to tie the game on the power play, however, when Kyle Pettit tipped a point-shot from Darren Raddysh for his 17th goal of the season. Saginaw scored a power play goal of their own halfway through the period to regain their lead, as Kris Bennett-who set up Niemelainen for the Spirit's first goal-cut in on the Erie net and beat Timpano on the far post. Saginaw continued to bombard the Erie net in the closing minutes of the first, and they skated off for the first intermission with the 2-1 lead. Saginaw outshot Erie a staggering 13-3 through twenty minutes.

Early in the second period, Kris Bennett surprised Timpano with an off-angle shot: Bennett scored his second goal of the game on the play, giving Saginaw the 3-1 lead. Then, midway through the period, Kirill Maksimov directed the puck toward the Erie net on the rush; Timpano, tangled up with an Erie defenseman and Saginaw forward, was unable to push across the crease to make the save. The puck trickled across the goal line and gave Saginaw a commanding 4-1 lead heading into the third period.

Erie managed to sustain some offensive pressure in the third period, culminating in Patrick Fellows beating Evan Cormier with a wrist-shot to pull the Otters within two. The Otters went to the power play with three minutes remaining in the game, but they were unable to convert with the man-advantage. Saginaw managed to close out the game with the 4-2 victory.

Patrick Fellows and Kyle Pettit scored Erie's goals; Darren Raddysh had two assists, with Alex DeBrincat and Carson Edwardson picking up an assist each. Troy Timpano made 18 saves on 22 shots in the loss.

For Saginaw, Kris Bennett scored two goals and an assist; Hayden Hodgson and Brady Gilmour each had two assists; and Evan Cormier made 21 saves on 23 shots in Saginaw's net.

The Otters return to Erie on Tuesday, January 10 to face the Kitchener Rangers. Dylan Strome, Taylor Raddysh, and Erik Cernak are expected to rejoin the team at that time.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2017


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