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OHL Erie Otters

Otters Score Two Late Power Play Goals, Fall Just Short in 4-3 Loss to North Bay

January 18, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


North Bay, Ontario - In the "House That Stan Butler Built", the Erie Otters would start off the first game of the Northern Swing Thursday night. Taking on a top Eastern Conference North Bay Battalion team, Erie would look to continue its perfect record against Coach Butler's former team since his arrival. Especially meaningful of a game in the last meeting of the season against North Bay, former Battalion player Coach Ken Peroff and North Bay area native Ben Gaudreau - who would get the start in net - would look to make an impact in the Memorial Gardens.

An unusually high-scoring opening period of play would see the Erie Otters trail by a pair of goals when the final horn on the first period sounded. Owen Van Steensel (20) would open the scoring for the North Bay Battalion just 5:12 into the contest. On a penalty kill, the Erie Otters would get Pano Fimis (13) would snag his first shorthanded goal of the season to make it a 1-1 game before the period's halfway mark. The game would not remain knotted for long, as Sandis Vilmanis (12) would score his third goal as a Battalion to give North Bay a 2-1 lead. On their second power play opportunity, the Battalion would strike from Jacob Therrien (14, PPG) to make it 3-1 North Bay through 20. 16-7 shots would favor the home team.

The second period would see classic Battalion-style hockey, as Erie would muster just four shots through the middle 20, while allowing 14 shots against. Despite the large disparity between the two teams shots in the period, Ben Gaudreau would pitch a scoreless frame and maintain a two goal deficit heading into the final period. Erie would have to complete the comeback without their alternate captain Carey Terrance, who would receive a five minute major and game penalty for boarding at the conclusion of the period. Erie would trail 3-1, being outshot 30-11.

Period Three would see Erie with four minutes of very successful penalty killing, but with :39 left on the kill, Andrew LeBlanc (11, PPG) would put what would appear to be the nail in the coffin with a power play goal to make it 4-1. As the period would mature, Erie would use the period to double its game shot total. The Otters would fire 13 shots in the final frame, and see birthday boy Sam Alfano (14, PPG) put the Otters on the board with just under eight minutes to go. With another power play opportunity, it would be the wunderkind Dylan Edwards (8, PPG) who would give Erie a shot in striking distance for a 4-3 game with 1:57 to go. Erie would call the timeout, empty the net, and fire a few dying minute shots that would not go. Erie would fight valiantly at the end, but fall 4-3 in North Bay.

The Northern Swing continues for the Erie Otters on Friday night as the team battles the Sudbury Wolves for the final time this season. After a travel-day on Saturday, Erie will square off in a major Western Conference battle in their final meeting of the season against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Erie has downed both of its upcoming foes on the northern Ontario road trip on home ice earlier this season.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 18, 2024


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