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OHL Erie Otters

Otters punish Whalers 7-3

January 6, 2010 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


The Erie Otters (19-15-5-1) have had no problem putting the puck in the back of the net since Christmas break ended two weeks ago. On Wednesday, the Otters put seven goals on the board against West Division rival Plymouth and won the contest 7-3 in a hard-nosed, fight-filled game, extending the club's win streak to four games.

The first period was filled with action as the teams combined for seven goals on 23 shots and two good fights to get the Buck Night crowd into the game right off the hop.

Plymouth jumped out to an early 2-0 lead less than four minutes into the game as forwards Josh Brittain and Leo Jenner beat Otters goalie Ramis Sadikov to take the life out of the Otters early in the contest.

But the Otters would strike back with two goals of their own less than a minute apart to tie the contest at two just six minutes into the game, perhaps sparked by the fight victory from Jeremy Gottzmann to rally the troops.

Andrew Yogan beat Plymouth goalie Matt Hackett for the first Erie goal, which came on the power-play at the 6:18 mark. Yogan rifled a slapper under the bar after receiving a pretty cross-ice pass from Anthony Luciani. Shawn Szydlowski picked up the secondary assist on the play. Zack Torquato, who was named Boston Pizza's OHL Player of the Week on Monday, put the equalizer behind Hackett at the 6:57 mark after a goal-mouth scramble. Mike Cazzola took the initial shot on a wrap-around attempt but was denied, Greg McKegg had a whack at the loose puck before he lost his balance before Torquato pounded home the loose change. It was Torquato's 20th goal of the season.

Plymouth would take the lead at the 12:41 mark as Robbie Czarnik put a puck through the legs of Sadikov on the power-play.

But the hometown team would score the next two goals as Cazzola put home a one-timer off a pass from the corner by Torquato for his 20th goal of the season. Defenseman Paul Cianfrini also picked up an assist on the goal.

With 25 seconds left in the period, rookie Jordan Coccimiglio walked in from just inside the blue line and wristed home his first career OHL goal to put Erie on top 4-3 going into the second period. Line mate Matthew Paton executed a picture-perfect screen on the goaltender, who never had a chance as Coccimigilo registered his fifth point of the season. Tyler Hostetter and Derek Holden picked up the assists on the goal, which would end up being the game-winner.

The Otters would start the second period the same way they finished the first - on the scoreboard.

McKegg registered his 19th goal of the campaign at the 5:14 mark on the power-play. McKegg finished off a beautiful touch-pass from Torquato after he received a shot-pass from Mitch Gaulton. The Otters scored that goal on a two-man advantage.

The Whalers would have their own two-man advantage halfway through the second period, but the Otters would play strong defense and hold the league's eight-ranked power-play scoreless.

Erie would send Hackett, a Minnesota Wild draftee, to the showers early as David Broll powered a slap shot past the goaltender at the 17:24 mark off a pass from Yogan. It was Broll's fifth goal of the season, which extended Erie's lead to 6-3.

The Otters wouldn't take their foot off the accelerator in the third period. McKegg would bang home his second goal of the game at the 7:25 mark right on top of the crease to extend the lead to 7-3. Like clockwork, Cazzola and McKegg would picked up the assists. The line continues to prove its point of maybe being the one of the best 1-2-3 combos in Erie history.

Torquato (1g, 2a), McKegg (2g, 1a) and Cazzola (1g, 2a) combined for ten points on the evening, while the Otters went 3-for-7 against the league's top penalty kill.

The Otters will begin the first part of a two game road trip Friday night, when they take on a Midwest Division rival in the Kitchener Rangers, game time slated for a 7:30 p.m. start.

Fans can listen to game action on Fox Sports Radio AM 1330 The Fan and ottershockey.com, starting at 7:15 p.m. with the pre-game show.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 6, 2010


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