OHL Erie Otters

Six-Unanswered from London Ruins Erie's Early Lead

Published on January 21, 2022 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


London, Ontario - Winning five of their last six games, the Erie Otters would hit the road toward the Forest City for a Friday night battle with the London Knights. The game would mark the third played game of the season between the bitter Midwest Division rivals, with London taking both games by a combined 11-5 score. With Erie's recent success, and an empty Budweiser Gardens, the Otters would hope that they'd find themselves in the win column against a Midwest opponent for the third time this year. Marshall Nicholls, fresh off his first career win, would get the nod in net again.

Erie came out on fire in the first period, looking to ensure that their recent hot streak continued to stay heated. Just :81 into the contest, Captain Daniel D'Amato (11) would put the first puck in the net from an Elias Cohen-forced turnover to give Erie a 1-0. 7:02 later, the Otters would find themselves 1/1 on the power play, as Captain Brendan Sellan (10) would tip-tap the puck in from chaos created by D'Amato and Cohen. Suddenly, Erie would hold a 2-0 lead. Erie would continue to fire on net, taking 20 of the first 35 shots in the first period. London would get one back from previous-Spirit Captain Camaryn Baber (9) who scored his first goal as a Knight on the power play. After one, a very exciting period would find Erie ahead 2-1, leading in shots 20-15 with :27 left on the kill.

In an absolute tale-of-two periods, the Otters would find just three shots in their favor in the second period, allowing 13 in the favor of the London Knights. With the 13 shots, London would turn their fortune around after a slow start. Early into the second, Erie's Elias Cohen and London's Colton Smith would drop the gloves, with Cohen being handed an Instigating penalty. 5:26 into the new frame, Sean McGurn (8) would capitalize off the aforementioned power play, knotting things up 2-2. London would score two more goals in 6:22 to score their third-and-fourth unanswered goals to take a 4-2 lead after 40. Before the period would end, Camaryn Baber would be handed a five minute major for a slewfoot against Spencer Sova. Erie would be outshot 13-3 in the second, and trail 4-2 into the final frame.

London would continue their second period strategy through the third, choking the neutral zone and allowing for minimal opportunities in the offensive end. Even with three power plays in the third - and eight total in the game - the Otters would be only able to yield one power play goal throughout the 60 minute effort. London would add two goals in the final frame from Luke Evangelista (24,25) to put the game on ice 6-2. Erie would allow six-unanswered goals, and be outshot 19-17 down the stretch to drop to 0-3 against London.

The Otters reload the bus and head back toward Erie, welcoming in the Saginaw Spirit for a weekend home-pair. Games are 7 P.M. Saturday and 2 P.M. Sunday at the Erie Insurance Arena. Erie and Saginaw have split the season-series 3-3, with the Otters winning the most recent battle 6-4 on Monday, January 17.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2022


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