RECAP: Dec and Agrette Each Tally Three Points as Otters Fall in OT
Erie, Pennsylvania — The Otters are back home as they welcomed in the Kitchener Rangers for the first of 34 at the EIA. Coming off of back-to-back wins to begin the season, the Otters would hope to find themselves back in win column hoping to win their first three games for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
The Otters pushed into the Rangers territory to open the first. Both teams remained scoreless for the first eight minutes of play. Mclean Agrette (1) found the back of the net off of an assist from Michael Dec, giving Erie the first lead of the game with just under nine minutes left in the first to make it 1-0 Otters. Keeping the energy flowing, Michael Dec (1) sent the puck into the net for a goal of his own, to put the Otters up 2-0 with 6:41 left in the first. The Rangers would finish the period strong as Erie would see David Egorov making a couple huge saves to keep the Otters in the lead. Erie would hold the 2-0 advantage following 20 minutes of play. To finish the first, Erie trailed behind Kitchener 15-10 in shots on goal.
To kick off the second, the Otters earned possession of the puck. Nearly five minutes in, Erie went to a power play on a minor penalty. Paul Schuster (PPG, 1) utilized it, landing his first OHL goal off of an assist by Agrette, extending the Otters’ lead 3-0. Tanner Lam earned a penalty shot for Kitchener but Egorov foiled the attempt. Weston Cameron (1) earned the first goal of the night for the Rangers with just over eight minutes left in the second, setting the score 3-1 in favor of the Otters. Kitchener continued to lead in shots on goal, ending the second 21-18.
The Rangers opened the third with a power play but were unable to benefit. With eleven minutes left in regulation, Avry Anstis (2) found the five-hole for Kitchener, making it a one goal game. With just under nine minutes left, Erie went to power play but couldn’t push their lead. Michael Dec drew another power play for the Otters with just under five minutes left in the game. Kitchener left their net empty in hopes to tie the game and earned a power play on a minor penalty by Erie. Weston Cameron (PPG, [2], 2) snuck the puck through to tie the game 3-3 with 30 seconds left in the third. The contest would require overtime to be settled as after 60 minutes of play, the Otters and Rangers would be tied 3-3. The Rangers managed to out shoot the Otters 36-28 in regulation.
Heading into the overtime period, each team would have a couple of looks but it would be the visitors to take advantage as Tanner Lam (GWG, 3) found the back of the net to win the contest as the Rangers would win by a final of 4-3.
The Otters return to the ice Thursday in Peterborough as they kick-off their Eastern Ontario road trip visiting the Petes, 67’s and Frontenacs. Following a trip to London, the Otters return home on October 10 to take on the Ottawa 67’s. For tickets and more information, head to Ottershockey.com.
