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OHL Erie Otters

Otters Score Twice in Final Two Minutes to Force OT, Fall 5-4

October 27, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Kitchener, Ontario - A bus ride west is always made a bit easier in the middle of a three-in-three weekend when you get aboard the transport as a winner. For the Erie Otters, they pulled into the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Friday night with heads raised a bit higher following a 4-2 win over the Barrie Colts the night prior. Carey Terrance's three point night and the 100th career point for Pano Fimis would lead the way to a win in Erie's first game of a road-road-home weekend. Unfortunately for Erie, the penultimate game of the trio would prove to be the toughest, as Erie would invade an 8-3 Kitchener team that has proven to be lethal through the early benchmark of the season. One thing would be guaranteed - it would be a Midwest Division battle with plenty to discuss.

A messy opening period would welcome the two teams into a Friday night battle, as the two teams would combine for five penalties in the opening 12 minutes. Unfortunately for Erie, both their power play and penalty kill would struggle, as the Kitchener Rangers would strike for a pair of goals on their man-advantages. Ontario Hockey League leading-scorer Carson Rehkopf (13) would open the game's scoring 9:26 into the period on the power play, and Mitchell Martin (6) would add the second goal of the game just under four minutes later to make it a 2-0 lead for the Kitchener Rangers. Erie would be outshot 16-6 in the frame, and trail by a pair.

Things would have to get worse before they got better for the Erie Otters, but they would get better in the second period. After Erie would find themselves unsuccessful on their third power play of the evening, Kitchener would find their third goal of the night - and first five-on-five - as Carson Rehkopf (14) would make it a 3-0 lead for the Rangers. Erie wouldn't let a three-goal deficit last long, as Erie's Carey Terrance (8) would put the Otters on the board 1:21 later. The goal from Erie would extend Terrance's point streak to 14 points (7G+7A) in the last nine games, as well as Malcolm Spence's recent point streak. Erie would not allow another goal down the stretch, and would outshoot the Rangers 7-5 in the middle period. Despite a 3-1 deficit after 40, there was reason for hope for the Otters going into the third.

Everything that the Otters did right in the second period, they would replicate early in the third period. A shot from the top of the right circle by Nathan Sauder (1) would be good for his first goal of the season to make it a one-goal game with plenty of time left in the game. Erie would maintain the offensive pressure throughout the ensuing minutes of the game, but be unable to find the back of the net. Late in the frame on the opposing side, Cameron Reid (1) would make it a two-goal game with under six to go from a high slot shot. Erie would be in desperation mode down two in the final two minutes. With the net empty, Malcolm Spence (2) would come up with a one-time goal from an Alexis Daviault pass. Under :30 would remain in the game, and the Otters offensive pressure would be more than evident and pressing. With a hero needed, Martin Misiak (5) would deliver with 17.8 seconds remaining to force OT and give Erie a big point on the road.

The two teams would split opportunities in the opening minute of the extra frame, but it would be Matthew Sop (8) who would come up as the overtime hero with 1:26 gone by. Erie would fall 5-4 in Kitchener in overtime, but find their way home to Erie with 3/4 points taken on the road-portion of the three-in-three.

Erie's final weekend of October closes out on home ice Saturday evening, as the Otters host the defending Ontario Hockey League champion Peterborough Petes for the only time this season. The Saturday night affair will be a spooktacular one for fans, as the team puts on its Haunted Hockey Night. Two handfuls of partner organizations will join the Otters around the concourse for a pregame trick-or-treat for kids of all ages. Once the game is underway, fans are encouraged to show off their costumes to be entered to win one of three prizes in our costume contest. With monster mash mayhem all evening, this will be a ghastly good time to close out the hockey halloweekend.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 27, 2023


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