OHL Erie Otters

Sova the Overtime Hero, Otters Down Rangers 4-3

Published on April 2, 2022 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Erie, Pennsylvania - A hard-fought loss left the Erie Otters fruitless on Friday night against the Ontario Hockey League's #1 Hamilton Bulldogs, 3-0. With a Saturday night date on home ice against the Kitchener Rangers, the Otters would have their chance to pick up serious points against a Midwest Division rival. With only three playoff spots remaining in the OHL Western Conference, and both teams vying for the spots, it would be a playoff atmosphere - especially with the Otters celebrating the Silver Anniversary of Erie Otters hockey. With alumni in the building, Erie would look to put on a show.

With just one goal in the last two games, Erie would waste no time in doubling up their recent scoring results in the first period. It would take less than four minutes for Colby Saganiuk (13) to get a goal past Jackson Parsons from his knees to make it a 1-0 Erie lead. 3:19 later, Christian Kyrou (17) would ensure lunch for the fans for the next two days as the Sonic Hot Scorer of the Game would fire one through on the power play to give Erie a 2-0 lead before the halfway mark of the period. Down by a pair, it would take just a difference of :37 for Kitchener to go from down 2-0 to a 2-2 game, as Mike Petizian (32) and Adrian Misaljevic (1) would beat Nolan Lalonde to even things up after one. Erie would control shots 16-7, and look to take the lead back in the second.

The score would remain the same for much of the second period, as would the intensity and rivalry shared between these two divisional foes. Erie would once again dominate in the shot department, taking a 14-6 shots advantage out of the second 20 minutes. After a successful penalty kill for Erie, Connor Lockhart would flip a puck through the air up to Noah Sedore (16) who would go bar-down on Parsons to give Erie a lead 15:54 into the second period, 3-2. Erie would lead in shots 30-13 through 40 minutes, and look to finish the job in the final frame.

The battle of the wills would be won by the Kitchener Rangers in the third period, as they would outshoot the Otters 13-11 in the final frame, and come up with the lone goal of the period from Adrian Misaljevic (2) to make it a 3-3 game. Both teams would push and pursuit the winning-goal, but in regulation it wouldn't come, and either team would grab a point as overtime would be forced. Overtime would commence, and either team would have their opportunities, as Nolan Lalonde would make some massive saves for the Erie Otters to keep the game winnable for his team. With just over a minute remaining, Carey Terrance would feed it to Spencer Sova (9), and the highly-touted Draft prospect would rip it past Parsons to give Erie a 4-3 overtime victory, and put them within a point of the final spot in the OHL Western Conference playoffs. Erie would pick up its third victory in four games over Kitchener, and continue the climb.

Picking up its 25th win of the season, Erie's three-in-three weekend comes to a close on Sunday afternoon as the team once again hosts Kitchener. Erie's homestand comes to a close on Thursday night as they host the Sarnia Sting, before they hit the road for the last time this season to Flint for their final meeting with the Firebirds.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2022


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