In Stan Butler’s 800th CHL Victory, Otters Upset #2 Spirit 5-4
The Otters would go on the penalty kill early with Sam Alfano finding himself in the box for a tripping penalty, and Erie would be able to continue their recent trend of successful kills. With five-on-five play back on the ice, it would be the Otters and Martin Misiak (20) to draw first blood and make it a 1-0 game. Otters offense would test Nolan Lalonde, a former Otter, in the crease with 13 shots in the first 14 minutes and only allow 5 shots. With just over six minutes left to go, the Otters would go back on the penalty kill for the second time this period. Ethan Fraser in net for the Otters would weather the Spirit’s power play attack just long enough for even-strength play to continue, and Hunter Haight (25) would tie the game up at 1-1. The first period would end with the Otters outshooting the Spirit 14-7 and the score tied up at one.
The third time would be the charm for the Otters as their third shot of the second period would find the back of the net. Kaleb Smith (7) would be the one to pull the Otters ahead and once again make it a one-goal game. The Spirit would retaliate just over two minutes later with Josh Bloom (14) striking true to once again tie the game up at 2-2. After back-and-forth play for most of the period, the Otters would go on the power play with two minutes left in the second frame that they would be unable to capitalize on. The Otters would go into the second intermission, the score tied 2-2 and still out-shooting the Spirit 25-17.
Just over two minutes into the third frame, the Otters would go on the penalty kill – their third of the night. Erie would go 3-3 in penalty kills after successfully weathering the offensive attack of the Spirit and even-strength play would resume. Pano Fimis (24) would break the stalemate 5:24 into the third frame and put the Otters ahead 3-2 and thirty-six seconds later, Alexis Daviault (6) would make it 4 for the Otters. Left reeling from the Otters’ onslaught, the Spirit would strike back with 7:40 left to play to cut the Otters’ lead to 4-3. The Spirit would pull Nolan Lalonde from net with less than two minutes left in the game to try to force the game into overtime, but Dylan Edwards (18) would find an empty net goal to pull the Otters up 5-3. Tempers would flare and the Otters would find themselves back on the penalty kill for the last minute of the game, where the Spirit would find the back of the net to make it 5-4, but it wouldn’t be enough to stop the Erie victory. With the Erie win, head coach Stan Butler would earn his 800th career CHL win and the Otters would go into their last week of the regular season on a high note.