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OHL Erie Otters

Three Unanswered in Third Earns Erie Victory at Home, Evens Series 2-2

April 4, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Erie Otters on game night
Erie Otters on game night
(Erie Otters)

Erie, Pennsylvania - Looking to avenge a heartbreaking loss at home on Tuesday night, the Erie Otters would remain at home for what could be considered a "must-win" game four against the Kitchener Rangers. With another crowd of over 4000+ filling the stands at the Erie Insurance Arena, the Otters would go back to the well with Ben Gaudreau in net.

The puck would drop on game four, and the Otters would be out for revenge after last night's OT loss. Ben Gaudreau, starting in net for the second game in a row for Erie, would come up huge with seven back-to-back shots to keep Kitchener from finding the back of the net in the first two and a half minutes. After the Kitchener offensive onslaught, the Otters would look to generate some motion. The Molnar-Misiak-McDonald line would test Jackson Parsons in net for the Rangers with two quick shots in the fourth minute of play, but it would be Sam Alfano (5) on the next shift to break open the game and give the Otters a 1-0 lead with 14:08 left to play in the first. The Otters would go on the power play, the first of the game, three minutes later and keep the puck in their attacking zone for almost the entire two-minute period. The Otters would be unable to capitalize on the man advantage but would pepper Parsons with shots to keep the Rangers on the back foot. Three minutes later, Alex Messier would get called for a cross-checking penalty. Seven seconds into the kill Carson Rehkopf (4) would strike to tie the game up at 1-1. Just one minute later, Filip Mešár (1) would find the back of the net again to extend the Kitchener lead 2-1. The Otters would go back on the penalty kill with seven minutes left in the period after a Martin Misiak penalty, which would be successfully killed off by masterful Erie defending. The first period would come to a close, the Otters down 2-1 and being outshot 15-9, with forty minutes to claw out a win.

The Otters would test Parsons early in the second period, firing in four quick shots to keep the Kitchener goaltender honest. Erie would continue their defensive momentum as they weathered a Kitchener storm of shots, and would apply some pressure of their own to keep the Rangers from getting too comfortable in the eighth minute. Erie would close down the shot deficit and Otters' defense would keep Kitchener shots to a minimum. With 8:57 left in the second, the Otters would go on their third penalty kill of the night after a Wesley Royston boarding penalty. They'd have a two-on-one opportunity fifty seconds into the kill and Pano Fimis (2), a Red Tilson Trophy nominee for Most Outstanding Player in the OHL, would bury it to knot the game back up at 2-2. With five seconds left on the kill, Luke Ellinas (3)would strike from distance to put the Rangers back up 3-2. With five minutes left in the period, the Otters would go on the power play but would be unable to capitalize on the advantage. In the final ninety seconds, the Rangers would have a numbers-up advantage, but Ben Gaudreau would once again show why he's one of the top OHL goaltenders and keep it a one-goal game. For the final seconds of play in the period, Otters defense would smother any and all offensive opportunities for the Rangers and go into the second intermission down 3-2.

Once again, the Otters would apply pressure early to start the third period, but it would be mostly stalemate play for the first five and a half minutes of play. Strong defensive play from both sides would keep the other from breaking through, but it would be Brett Bressette (1) to force his way through the blockade and tie the game up 3-3. With momentum firmly in favor of Erie, Alexis Daviault (1) would sneak in a near-post goal to give the Otters their first lead since the first period. The Otters would continue to snuff the Kitchener offense and force multiple turnovers to maintain their one-goal lead as the minutes ticked down. Gaudreau would log thirty saves with 2:35 left in regulation, handling Kitchener's offense with ease. Kitchener would pull Jackson Parsons in the final forty seconds, but a penalty would bring him right back on for the Erie power play. Kitchener would try pulling Parsons again in the final minute of play, but a Martin Misiak (1) empty netter would seal an Erie victory and ensure a game six to be played in Erie. In a thrilling comeback victory, the Otters would score three unanswered goals and outshoot Kitchener 40-33 to tie the series back up 2-2 going into game five tomorrow on the road.

We have ourselves a series, and it's back on the road for the Erie Otters. Game 5 takes place on Friday, April 5 back in Kitchener, with game six - now deemed necessary - back in Erie at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, April 9. If a game seven is necessary, it will be in Kitchener on Wednesday, April 10 at 8:00 P.M.

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Erie Otters on game night
Erie Otters on game night
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from April 4, 2024


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