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OHL Erie Otters

Otters Go 3/3 in Shootout, Earn 4-3 Victory for First of 2024

January 6, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Erie Otters' Malcolm Spence in action
Erie Otters' Malcolm Spence in action
(Erie Otters)

Erie, Pennsylvania - After an 0-2 start to the new year, and looking for the first win of 2024, the Erie Otters would welcome in the upstart Windsor Spitfires for Nickelodeon Night. This would be the first meeting between the two teams since Erie downed Windsor 7-1 on October 14, with Erie looking to continue their success against the Spitfires of the last seasons.

It wouldn't take long for Erie to get on the board to start the game, as Ondrej Molnar (12) would continue his success of the last month from a laser of a shot at the hashmarks just 4:53 into the game. As Windsor's offensive opportunities would start to arise, it would give way to Ryan Abraham (13) scoring in his eighth-straight game to make it a 1-1 game 11:19 in. In the final minute of period one, Josef Eichler (2) would launch a missle to the back of the net to make it a 2-1 Windsor advantage after 20, despite Erie leading in shots 13-12.

The second period would continue Erie's trend of early period goals in the game, as Sam Alfano (12) would finally be rewarded for his efforts of late to knot things up at two. Just :17 later, Owen Outwater (4) would nix the Otter momentum by putting the Spitfires back on top 3-2. Just past the halfway mark of the game, Malcolm Spence (9) would complete an Alexis Daviault feed to tie things up at 3-3 through 40. Shots would be even 21-21.

The defenses and goaltenders of either would step up in the final 20 minutes, as well as the additional five minutes necessary for the overtime period. Erie would outshoot Windsor in the final 25 minutes 16-12, but it would take extra, extra time in the game.

With the game coming down to the skills competition, Erie would look to continue its success in the shootout enroute to its first win of 2024. With the Spitfires being selected to shoot first, Liam Greentree would give Windsor a 1-0 advantage. Erie would get an immediate response from a laser by Ondrej Molnar for 1-1 after round one. In the second round, it would be Cole Davis to put the Spitfires back ahead, but the fancy moves of Malcolm Spence would assure a tied affair through two rounds. In the third - and potentially final - round, Jacob Malliet would fire the puck right into the chest of Ben Gaudreau for an easier save, opening the door for Dylan Edwards to play the shootout hero. With a fancy move at the doorstep, Dylan Edwards would do it - giving Erie a 3-2 shootout win, and a 4-3 win on home ice for their first of the new year.

Another three-game week is on the horizon for the Erie Otters, with a home-road-home weekend. Erie will start at home on Wednesday, January 10 for Mental Health Awareness Night (pres. by NAMI Erie County) and Winning Wednesday (pres. by Widget Financial) against the Barrie Colts. Erie will hit the road for Kitchener for the final time on Friday evening, taking on a top Ranger team. On Saturday evening, the Flint Firebirds will come to town for Youth Sports Night, with the first 1500 fans in attendance receiving their very own first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer Bobblehead (pres. by Rebich Investments).

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Images from this story

Erie Otters' Malcolm Spence in action
Erie Otters' Malcolm Spence in action
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 6, 2024


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