Otters dam up 67’s offence
The Ottawa 67’s couldn’t get the motor firing on Friday night, falling 4-1 to the Erie Otters, who did some window dressing in the game’s dying stages with a pair of empty net goals.
The opening frame provided little in the way of offence, as neither team could get on the board, despite turning 12 shots on net apiece.
Locked in a stalemate, it seemed as if the second was on track to provide the same outcome until a little chaos ensued eight minutes in. With Collin MacKenzie scrambling back to his crease, the Barber Poles made a great effort to keep the puck out, but Pano Fimis slid one by, giving the Otters the lead.
About seven minutes later, the 67’s got their offence out of the mud on the power play. With Sam Alfano sitting for tripping, Luca Pinelli blasted his team lead 23rd goal of the season past Noah Erliden, knotting the score at one.
Midway through the third, the Otters capitalized on another bouncing puck, as a shot hit MacKenzie high on the top of the shoulder, and trickled in behind him, where Brett Hammond tapped it into the goal, giving Erie a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
A pair of empty netters from Fimis and Malcolm Spence sealed the deal, securing a 4-1 win for the visitors.
Box score
Teams | Score | Shots on goal | Power plays |
Ottawa | 1 | 29 | 1/5 |
Erie | 4 | 31 | 0/1 |
First period
No scoring
Second period
1-0: ER #98 Pano Fimis (14) scores. Assists: #33 Sam Alfano, #17 Malcolm Spence
1-1: OTT #20 Luca Pinelli (23) scores. Assists: #22 Matthew Mayich, #23 Will Gerrior POWER PLAY
Third period
2-1: ER #91 Brett Hammond (3) scores. Assists: #72 Alexis Daviault, #21 Alex Messier
3-1: ER #98 Pano Fimis (15) scores. Assists: #90 Martin Misiak, #9 Callum Hughes EMPTY NET
4-1: ER #17 Malcolm Spence (18) scores. Assists: #33 Sam Alfano, #2 Ty Henry EMPTY NET
Next up
The Barber Poles put a close on the weekend on Sunday afternoon, as they host the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the return of Charlie Hilton at 2 p.m. Great seats are still available here.