THREE STARS: Three Point Western Swing Powered by Point-Scoring
Erie, Pennsylvania – Erie’s road trip rest would be no walk in the park. Going on six games in ten days, the Otters’ mental toughness and characteristic grittiness shone through the adversity in another exciting week of hockey.
On Wednesday against the Soo Greyhounds, the Soo forced an overtime period and scored early to beat the Otters 4-3.
Against the Saginaw Spirit on Friday, the Otters scored three unanswered goals between the first and second periods to eventually win 7-5.
In their final game of the week against the Flint Firebirds, the Otters dropped a 2-1 decision.
Here are the players who made this week possible.
THIRD STAR – MATTHEW SCHAFER
Matthew Schaefer continues to rack up the points!
Against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Schaefer put the Otters up 3-2 late in the second frame off the assist from Gabriel Frasca and Nicholas Holomego This would be the last Otters’ goal of the night and would be the difference maker in forcing overtime and ensuring the Otters walked away with a point. Schaefer would earn Second Star honors with his clutch goal.
Against the Saginaw Spirit on Friday, Schaefer lent a helping hand with three assists on the night! His first came just 25 seconds into the second period on a power play opportunity when he found Sam Alfano to put the Otters up 2-0. Early in the third frame, Schaefer found Wesley Royston, who extended the Otters’ lead 5-3. His final assist on the night came in the very last second of play when he and Pano Fimis found Carey Terrance for an empty net, insurance goal to see out the victory.
The defenseman found another assist against the Flint Firebirds when he set up Dylan Edwards on a power play and put the Otters up 1-0 for their only lead of the night.
SECOND STAR – DYLAN EDWARDS
Dylan Edwards is back to business after a slow start to the season!
In Wednesday’s overtime loss against the Soo Greyhounds, Edwards picked up a goal halfway into the second period to put the Otters up 2-0 with a little help from Carey Terrance.
On Friday, Edwards nabbed two assists, one in the first and another in the second, to be involved in the first two goals of the game. With the score tied 5-5 late in the third, Edwards tacked the game-winning goal to his night’s stats and earned Second Star honors for the night.
Edwards scored his third and final goal of the week against the Flint Firebirds – the only Otters’ goal of the night. Just under halfway through the first, Matthew Schaefer and Carey Terrance teamed up to find Edwards on a power play to put the Otters up 1-0.
FIRST STAR – CAREY TERRANCE
The captain exploded offensively last week to combine for six total points (4G+2A)!
Carey Terrance kicked off the week with one assist against the Soo Greyhounds. He found Dylan Edwards halfway in the second period on a power play to even the score 2-2.
With one point under his belt going into Friday’s game, Terrance hit a new level and racked up four goals in the Otters’ 7-5 victory over the Saginaw Spirit! The captain opened the scoring on the night over 12 minutes into the first frame with help from Edwards and Royston, and it was Terrance all over for the rest of the game. He would extend the lead 3-0 in the second period off the assist from Ty Henry and Royston. Terrance scored another goal over eight minutes later after a brief surge of life from the Spirit to bring the Otters up 4-2. Not satisfied with just a hat trick, Terrance slammed the door shut in the final second of the game with an empty net insurance goal and ensured the Otters a 7-5 win. Terrance earned First Star honors on the night with his electric performance on the ice.
In the week’s final game, Terrance found Dylan Edwards in the first period to give the Otters a 1-0 lead against the Flint Firebirds before falling 2-1.
After toughing it out on the road last week, the Otters are finally returning to the Erie Insurance Arena to play in front of a home crowd!
They kick off their return on Wednesday against the Brampton Steelheads at 7 P.M. and will have a day of rest before getting back to business on Friday against the Soo Greyhounds. It will also be a 3-2-1 Friday – $3 Labatt Blue Light, $2 hotdogs, and $1 popcorn until the start of the third period! University students with a valid college ID can also get BOGO tickets!
The Otters will finish their week out on Saturday against the Kitchener Rangers, and it will also be Erie’s annual Children’s Grief Awareness Night (pres. by Highmark Caring Place). Wear your baby blue to support those in your community on their journey through grief. Players will take the ice in specialty jerseys that will be auctioned off post-game to benefit Highmark Caring Place.
