Erie, Pennsylvania – The first Sunday Family Funday for the Erie Otters since October would bring the upstart Sarnia Sting to town to close out an Erie three-in-three. For the first time since the blockbuster trade on December 14, former Erie Otter Christian Kyrou would return to his home rink. Erie would look to snap a three-game losing skid and pick up their first win of 2023. Nolan Lalonde would start in net for the Erie Otters.

Outside of the first minute of the frame, the Otters would have a very solid first period of play. The game would start with a tripping penalty against Artyom Kulakov that would lead to a Nolan Burke (23) power play goal :54 in. From that point, Erie would outshoot the Sting 12-2 through the remainder of the period. After 20 minutes of play at the Erie Insurance Arena, Sarnia would lead 1-0, trailing in shots 12-2.

The second period would see the Sarnia Sting’s offensive muscles start to be flexed, as the West Division foe would grab four goals. 4:44 into the period, Marcus Limpar-Lantz (11) would open up scoring, and in the next three minutes a pair of goals would be added by Ty Voit (11) and Marko Sikic (6) to make it a 4-0 game. Kyle Downey would enter in to goaltend in relief. Out of a timeout for the Otters, Carey Terrance (15) would get Erie on the board 8:06 into the frame. The period would come to an end as Cooper Way (4) would put the Sting back up by four. Erie would trail 5-1 after two despite a 17-14 shots advantage.

Down by four heading into the final frame, the Erie Otters would give a valiant effort in the third. The Otters would double-up Sarnia in shots 10-5, and grab the lone goal of the period as Elias Cohen (13) would score on the power play to make it a three-goal game. Despite the stronger close to the game, Erie would drop its fourth-straight game, 5-2.

The Erie Otters return home on Thursday night to take on the Owen Sound Attack at 6:30 P.M. for Thirsty Thursday. Erie will then host the Oshawa Generals on Saturday, January 14 for Youth Sports Night, and the Mississauga Steelheads on Monday, January 16 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.