Attack take down the Otters 4-3 in overtime
Saturday night the Attack took on the Otters for the first game of a weekend back to back in Erie. The Attack would beat the Otters in a close back and fourth game, that saw goaltender Carter George hold strong, while Landen Hookey and Deni Goure had amazing nights of their own.
The First period opened poorly for the Attack, as they struggled keep the puck away from the Otters who pushed hard on their forecheck. The Attack would spend the first four minutes of the game two steps behind the Otters who pushed hard early. This would prove to be successful as the Otters got on the board early with a goal from Dylan Edwards, his 12th of the season. The Attack would slowly find their footing and eventually get on the board themselves 15 minutes into the first. Landen Hookey would throw a shot on net off a no-look pass from Konnor Smith and would squeak its way past the Otter goaltender to tie the game. The rest of the period would see some back and fourth action with a few good chances for the Attack, but it would be Erie that would strike just 40 seconds before the end of the first.
The second period would look like a completely different game from the Attack, as they came out flying, forcing Otters net minder, Ethan Fraser to make some great saves. The Otters did not slouch themselves, as they made Carter George work hard to keep the game close. The Attack would tie the game with 2:30 left in the second as Ben Cormier drove hard to the net, forcing the puck towards the Otters goaltender. Cormier would get tied up by an Otters defender just as the puck reached the crease, but Hookey was there to pick up the pieces, and pot his second goal of the night. The Attack did not wait long to strike again as they would start a two on two rush with Hookey and McCue. Hookey went wide around the struggling Erie defender, and McCue would drive to the net. Hookey sent a puck flying towards the net where McCue would get a piece of it for his 20th goal of the season to put the Attack up by 1.
Headed into the third, the Attack were up by one. The period started slowly with the Attack controlling the majority of play, but not driving any offence of their own. Erie would struggle to start any offence, and both teams would go back and forth, neither giving any ground. Late in the third the Otters would push hard, forcing George to make save after save to keep the Attack ahead by one, but with six minuets left in the third, the Otters would score to tie the game. The rest of regulation would see both sides with amazing offensive chance, both being smother by the opposing goaltender, and the game would head to overtime.
Both teams began overtime cautiously, neither wanting to give up an odd man rush, but late in OT the Attack would strike one last time to win the game. Taos Jordan sent the puck flying across the offensive zone to Burroughs who sent it right back to Goure who put the puck in the net to end this close game. Shots were 41-38 in favour of the Attack.
The Attack will be in Erie again Sunday for the second game of the back to back at 4:00pm.