OHL Erie Otters

Otters hang tough in 6-3 loss to Colts

Published on December 4, 2009 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


The Erie Otters (12-12-4-1) attempt to snap the Barrie Colts' 15-game win streak came up short, as the Colts scored three third period goals to hand the Otters a 6-3 loss, ending the Otters' three-game winning streak.

The Otters kept the pace through the first 40 minutes with three separate leads, but the Eastern Conference leaders proved to be too much for them as they broke away in the third period Friday night at Tullio Arena.

In the first, the Otters got on the board as forward Andrew Yogan lifted a backhander past the glove of Barrie goalie Peter Di Salvo at the 6:55 mark. Right winger Anthony Luciani got the lone assist on the tally as he feathered a pass from the side of the net to find Yogan in front for his 14th of the season.

The lead would be short-lived as Barrie center Alexander Burmistrov scored his 10th goal of the season, a short-handed mark at the 12:00 mark to tie the game at one.

The Otters would come storming back when the red-hot line of Mike Cazzola, Greg McKegg and captain Zack Torquato would all find the scoresheet with just over three minutes to go in the frame.

Torquato took a pass from McKegg and fired it off the left pad of Barrie goalie Dalton McGrath - who entered the game less than a minute before the goal when Di Salvo appeared to injure his lower body - and Cazzola was on the doorstep to fire home his 14th of the season to put the Otters back on top, 2-1.

But Barrie would not go away as defenseman Stephen Gaskin's wrist shot went through heavy traffic and appeared to hit an Otter before beating Erie goaltender Ramis Sadikov to tie the game 2-2 heading into the second period.

The Otters outshot the Colts 17-13 in the highly offensive first period. In the second, the Otters once again would start the scoring as rookie Brady Austin skated in from just outside the Otters blue line and got past both Barrie defensemen and finished his third goal of the season with a nice backhand-to-forehand move over the blocker of McGrath to put Erie ahead 3-2 with just under 10 minutes left in the period.

The teams would trade chances back and forth for the majority of the period until Hutchings tapped in an open net rebound for the Colts' second shorthanded goal of the game to tie the contest at three.

Hutchings collected his third point of the night after Barrie captain Stefan Della Rovere was stopped on a breakaway by the right post, but the rebound lay put and Hutchings buried it at 18:02 to send the teams to a deadlock after 40 minutes of play.

The Colts took over in the third period. Just 1:19 into the frame, the Colts took a 4-3 lead on Burmistrov's second goal of the game. Hutchings and Della Rovere earned the helpers on the play.

A little over three minutes later, Kyle Clifford iced the game as he slapped home a rebound to give the Eastern Conference leaders a 5-3 cushion and send the club to their 16th consecutive victory. Defenseman Nick Crawford added an insurance goal at 11:13 to complete the scoring. Hutchings ended the night with five points (1g, 4a,) while Burmistrov earned a three point night (2g, 1a).

Sadikov, who was making his fourth straight start, turned away 34-of-40 Barrie shots, while Austin was named the game's third star with his highlight-reel goal.

The Otters will take on the Sarnia Sting, slated for a 7 p.m. start Saturday night. Fans are reminded to bring a new or gently used stuffed animal to the game tomorrow as the Otters will conduct their second annual Teddy Bear Toss Game. When the Otters score their first goal, fans will throw their stuffed animals on the ice, where all will be donated to charity after the game. Fans will also receive a voucher for a free ticket to a future Otters game for bringing a stuffed animal to the game (some restrictions apply). Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, the Tullio Arena box office, or by calling 452-4857.

For further information contact the Erie Otters at 814-455-7779 or e-mail the Otters at [email protected].

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 4, 2009


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