THREE STARS: Otters Offense Delivers in Three-Game Weekend
Erie, Pennsylvania – Yet another challenging week for the Erie Otters has come and gone, but the team was ready to rise to the occasion.
Beginning on Thursday on the road against Niagara, the Erie put on a clinic with a 9-3 victory over the IceDogs – the highest-scoring victory for the Otters in six years. Points exploded with three players scoring multiple goals in the win. On Friday, the Otters would travel to play their divisional foe, the Guelph Storm, and would fall 7-4. Finally home for the third game of the week against the Sarnia Sting, the Otters would play in front of a sold-out crowd and dig out their second 4-0 shutout in back-to-back weeks. With Saturday’s four goals, the Otters’ weekend goal total was brought up to a whopping 17.
Here are the players who made this week possible.
THIRD STAR – MATTHEW SCHAFER
In just under three weeks back on the ice, Matthew Schafer has reminded OHL fans exactly why he was the number one draft pick in 2023.
Against the Niagara IceDogs, Schafer contributed two goals and two assists to the 9-3 victory. He found Pano Fimis less than two minutes into the contest on a power play to put the Otters up 1-0, and then he was full speed ahead. His first goal of the night, over eight minutes into the second period, put the Otters up 3-1, and two minutes later he would find Malcolm Spence for what would end up being the game-winner. At the 13:45 mark, Schafer found his second goal to give the Otters a commanding 7-1 lead. With four point contributions in the 9-3 win, Schafer earned Second Star Honors on the night in front of the Niagara crowd.
At home against the Sarnia Sting, Schafer had two more assists in the 4-0 shutout victory. He and Dylan Edwards worked to help Sam Alfano open the scoring for what would turn out to be the game-winner in the second period. Over 12 minutes into the third and final period with Erie up by three, Schafer and Nathan Sauder let Wesley Royston shut the door and give the Otters a 4-0 victory. Schafer’s efforts in front of a sold-out Erie crowd earned him Third Star Honors.
SECOND STAR – MALCOLM SPENCE
It was a week of threes for forward Malcolm Spence!
Amidst an explosion of Erie offense in a 9-3 win over the Niagara IceDogs, Spence earned his first-ever OHL hat trick! 10:31 into the second period, Spence notched his first goal of the game, which also counted as the game-winner in the highest-scoring Erie victory in six years. Less than ninety seconds later, Spence would find his second goal of the period. His third goal of the night, his ninth on the season, came halfway into the third period on a short-handed opportunity to complete his hat-trick and earn First Star Honors on the night!
Against divisional foe, the Guelph Storm, Spence had a hat-trick of assists! He found Carey Terrance in the first period to give the Otters their first and only lead of the game. Early in the second period, Spence teamed up with Alexis Daviault to help Pano Fimis find the back of the net and cut the Guelph lead 4-2. His final assist came in the third period when he and Gabriel Frasca set Dylan Edwards up for a power play goal.
FIRST STAR – NOAH ERLIDEN
No, you are not mistaken – Noah Erliden earned his second shutout victory in back-to-back weeks!
Leading up to his second clean sheet, Erliden put up 26 saves off of 29 shots on Thursday against the Niagara IceDogs, allowing only three goals to ensure the Otters’ 9-3 win.
On Friday, Erliden played just under one period against the Guelph Storm but still found the time to make 8 saves before fellow goaltender Charlie Burns would return to the ice.
Back home in a deja vu moment from last Saturday’s game against the Barrie Colts, the Swedish draft important earned his second OHL shutout – as another 4-0 final score. Erliden was unstoppable in net with 26 saves against the Sarnia Sting, and his efforts would also earn him First Star Honors on the night.
The Otters will take to the road for all three of their upcoming games this week, beginning on Wednesday against the Soo Greyhounds. They’ll have one day of rest before getting right back at it on Friday and playing the Saginaw Spirit before finishing the week out on Saturday against the Flint Firebirds.
