OHL Erie Otters

Otters upset defending champs Spitfires at Tullio Arena, 5-3

Published on February 5, 2010 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


The Erie Otters (24-22-5-2) took down the league's best Friday evening inside the Tullio Arena.

In a real David vs. Goliath tilt, the Otters were up against the defending OHL and Memorial Cup Champion Windsor Spitfires, the Western Conference's cream of the crop and winners of the previous three meetings over Erie.

Friday was a different song and dance for the Otters - a 5-3 victory over the King of the West and two well-deserved points to kick off a weekend of hockey inside the Tullio Arena.

In the very physical first period, the Otters played stingy defense while the offense controlled the play in the Windsor end for the majority of the period, resulting in a 2-0 lead heading into the second period.

The Otters got on the board just 3:51 into the frame as Shawn Szydlowski scored his second goal in as many games off a deflection just inside the hash marks past Spitfires goalie Troy Passingham to net not only the lead, but the early momentum. Defenseman Brett Cook and forward Andrew Yogan picked up the helpers on Syzdlowski's 13th goal of the season.

The second Otters goal was the result of hardworking rookie David Broll, who outmuscled Harry Young, the Windsor captain and New Jersey Devils prospect, behind the net to keep the play alive and eventually put the puck in the back of a wide open cage at 8:18.

Broll outraced Young to a loose puck, won the battle on the boards and got the puck to Brady Austin at the point. Austin fired a shot that hit Broll's skates right on top of Passingham's crease, but the rookie composed himself and made a nice forehand-backhand move to grab his sixth tally of the campaign.

The Otters outshot the Spits 15-11 in the period, while rookie goaltender Ramis Sadikov got some help from his trusted goalposts, as Windsor rang two shots off the iron in the opening 20 minutes.

In the second however, the Otters committed the cardinal sin against the Spitfires - granting the squad power-play opportunities.

Windsor, who came into the game with the leagues best power-play at 26.5 percent, scored two goals with the man-advantage -Adam Henrique's 30th and Marc Cantin's 2nd - and tied the game at two heading into the final frame.

Erie went scoreless on its lone power-play and only fired six shots in the direction of Passingham in the second period, compared to the 12 the Spits aimed at Sadikov.

But in the third, the Otters' Zack Torquato, fresh off a five-point performance in the OHL All-Star Game on Wednesday, deposited the go-ahead goal past Passingham at 11:15.

Torquato's 25th goal of the season came off a feed from Cook, who, as he was stumbling slid a pass one-handed to Torquato, who lifted the puck over the blocker and gave Erie its first lead since the first period.

Just over three minutes later, Greg McKegg would put the eventual game-winner in the back of the net and give Erie its first win over Windsor in four meetings this season.

McKegg put his 26th goal of the season behind Passingham as the second-year forward went one-on-one with the goalie and put the puck underneath the pads to give Erie a two goal advantage with just over five minutes to play. Szydlowski and Holden earned the assists on the play.

Windsor would answer back as the club pulled its goalie with 3:30 left in the period to get a six-on-five advantage - and it worked.

Justin Shugg scored his 29th goal of the season with the man advantage and made the final three minutes a frenzy in the Otters zone.

Windsor had its chances, but Sadikov stood tall and kept the puck out of the back of the net, propelling the Otters to their 24th victory of the season.

The Otters Mike Cazzola would add an empty net goal with 55 seconds to play to sweeten the victory, Torquato and Derek Holden had the assists.

The Otters will stick with the West Division foes Saturday evening as former Erie Otter Jordan Skellett and the Saginaw Spirit make their last visit to the Tullio Arena, slated for a 7 p.m. start.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, the Tullio Arena box office, ottershockey.com or by calling 452-4857.

Fans can listen to game action on Fox Sports Radio AM 1330 The Fan and ottershockey.com, starting at 6:45 p.m. with the pre-game show.

For further information contact the Erie Otters at 814-455-7779 or e-mail the Otters at paul@ottershockey.com.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 5, 2010


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