THREE STARS: All In On One Otters Line For Success
Erie, Pennsylvania – The Erie Otters brought in two wins on a three-game week after punching their ticket to the playoffs.
The Otters started their week on Wednesday at home against London, the final regular season meeting between these two rival teams. Erie would drop a 5-1 decision against the Knights and then look to turn their luck around on the road against Niagara.
On Thursday against the IceDogs, the Otters would complete a thrilling comeback victory and score five unanswered goals for a 7-4 win.
Back home to finish out their week against the Saginaw Spirit, the Otters would battle in a harsh back-and-forth game before ultimately coming out on top in a 5-4 victory.
Here are the players who made this week possible.
THIRD STAR – SAM ALFANO
The Big Rig is coming in hot!
Sam Alfano had five points on the week with four coming from Thursday’s game against the Niagara IceDogs and one in Saturday’s game against the Saginaw Spirit.
Alfano’s first assist would come late in the first period, and he would help Pano Fimis set Dylan Edwards up for his second goal of the night. He would have another assist towards the end of the second frame, this time setting up Pano Fimis with the help of Dylan Edwards. Alfano would score four minutes later, tying the game up 4-4 just before the second intermission. Less than ten minutes into the final frame, Alfano would score the game-winner and the second straight unanswered goal.
On Saturday, Alfano lent a helping hand for Pano Fimis to score the game-winner against the Spirit just over five minutes into the third period.
SECOND STAR – PANO FIMIS
Pano Fimis take a bow!
It was a five-point night against the Niagara IceDogs for the Ontario native with one goal and four assists. In Thursday’s 7-4 victory, Fimis was involved in over 70% of the night’s goals.
Fimis’s first assist of the night came less than two minutes into the game when he and Spencer Sova set up Dylan Edwards for the opener. Fimis would be involved in the next four straight goals for the Otters with three more assists and a goal of his own, and he would be awarded Second Star honors for the night’s performance.
Fimis also found the back of the net against the Saginaw Spirit on Saturday. After back-and-forth play all game, Fimis scored the game-winner just over five minutes into the final period to call game.
FIRST STAR – DYLAN EDWARDS
Have yourself a week Dylan Edwards!
The right winger in his junior season with the Otters put up four goals and one assist to bring his season total to 28 points.
His first goal of the week would be Erie’s lone goal against the London Knights. After a scoreless first two periods, Edwards struck gold just under ten minutes into the final frame to prevent the Otters from being shut out.
Edwards put up a clinic on Thursday’s game against the Niagara IceDogs with two goals and one assist. The Alfano/Fimis/Edwards line would combine that night for eleven points.
On Saturday, Edwards would have an empty net, game-winning goal late in the third period against the Saginaw Spirit, extending his point streak to six games.
It’s the final three games of the regular season for the Otters.
Erie will be on the road on Wednesday and Thursday, playing the Flint Firebirds and the Windsor Spitfires before returning to the Erie Insurance Arena to play their final regular season game in front of the home faithful. For the greatest fans in the OHL, the Otters are also celebrating Fan Appreciation Night! Fans can enjoy giveaways all night long and, together, we will prepare for a – hopefully – long playoff run.
Stay Informed:
Keep up-to-date with the latest Erie Otters news by visiting OttersHockey.com, or follow along on social media with the Otters Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
About the Erie Otters:
The Erie Otters are an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1996, the Otters have a rich history of excellence both on and off the ice. The team is committed to creating memorable experiences for its fans and contributing to the growth and well-being of the Erie community.
For further information on the Erie Otters and for media inquiries, please contact Shawn Bednard at [email protected].
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