Otters Climb to Tops of Midwest Division with Point in Shootout Loss
Erie, Pennsylvania – The Erie Otters have claimed sole possession of first place in the Midwest Division by picking up a point in a 4-3 shootout loss against the Mississauga Steelheads Sunday afternoon at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre.
The Otters were finishing up their fourth three games in three days weekend in the first two months of the season by traveling to Mississauga for an afternoon tilt. Erie built off the momentum from the previous night’s overtime victory by opening the scoring on the power play at 2:17 with Max Golod finishing off a Chad Yetman centering pass to give Erie a 1-0 lead. The Steelheads would answer as Nicholas Canade finished off a two-on-one rush to send the game to the intermission tied.
Lightening struck twice for the Steelheads as Canade would finish off a breakaway to give the Steelheads a 2-1 lead midway in the second period. The game continued its back and forth pace as Erie’s Daniel D’Amato would tie the game early in the third bouncing in a loose puck in the crease following a scramble. Favor would volley back to the Steeelheads as Liam Ham’s shot from the slot deflected off a body and snuck through Daniel Murphy for a 3-2 lead. The Otters Hayden Fowler found a late burst of energy at the end of the period as he busted towards into the offensive zone and as he cut towards the net, he was hauled down resulting in a penalty shot called. Fowler picked up the puck at center ice for his first career penalty shot attempt, the third year forward would cruise to the net front and fire the puck five-hole through Kai Edmonds to tie the game at three.
The game headed to extra time, Erie’s fourth straight overtime game, and eighth in their last 11 games. As the teams couldn’t capitalize during the three-on-three overtime, the game would find a winner in the shootout. Keean Washkurak would net the only shootout goal to collect the extra point for Mississauga, defeating the Otters 4-3.
Erie’s penalty kill had another perfect night killing five Steeelheads power plays. Erie collected four of a possible six points on the weekend. The point in the standings gives the Otters sole possession of the Midwest Division lead with 26 points. Erie continues its current road stretch into next week with visits to Niagara and Oshawa starting Thursday night.
Single game tickets for the 2019-20 season are on sale now. Erie Otters season tickets and flex packages are also available and can be purchased in person at the Erie Otters front office located at 201 E. 8th Street in Erie, or by calling 814-455-7779. For the latest Otters news, visit www.ottershockey.com, or follow the team on Facebook (www.facebook.com/erieottershockey), Twitter (@ErieOtters) and Instagram (@ErieOtters).
