THREE STARS: Shining Through Three-in-Threes
Erie, Pennsylvania – The Erie Otters walked out of yet another three-in-three weekend, preparing to hit the road north.
On Friday at home against the Niagara IceDogs, the Otters scrapped out a 3-2 shootout victory in thrilling fashion. Against the Kitchener Rangers, the Otters fell in a 4-3 decision on home ice. In their final game on the road against the Niagara IceDogs again, the Otters lost with a 6-3 final score.
Here are the players who made this week happen.
THIRD STAR – MALCOLM SPENCE
Malcolm Spence showed up and showed out on Saturday against the Kitchener Rangers.
In the first six minutes of the second period, Erie down 2-0, Spence found Sam Alfano to put the Otters on the board and cut the Kitchener lead. Seven minutes later, Spence himself would add another to the Erie score and tie the game at 2-2 on a power play opportunity. Spence’s two-point showing earned him Second Star honors.
SECOND STAR – PANO FIMIS
With three points in the first two games of the week, Pano Fimis is our Second Star!
On Friday, Fimis began his week with an assist to Malcolm Spence halfway through the second period to tie Kitchener up 2-2 on the power play.
On the road on Sunday, Fimis put up two goals in the 6-3 loss. His first goal of the afternoon came just after the halfway mark in the second period and put the Otters up 2-0. In the final minutes of the third period, Fimis cut the surging IceDogs’ lead to 4-3 in what would turn out to be the final Erie goal of the contest.
FIRST STAR – SAM ALFANO
Fifteen points in ten games – Sam Alfano take a bow!
Erie’s overager has been on a consistent scoring streak since the start of the new year and has added three points to the tally after this weekend.
On Friday, Alfano knotted the game up in the second period and kickstarted Erie’s comeback charge. Alfano picked up another goal against the Kitchener Rangers, again putting the Otters on the board for the second night in a row. On the road against Niagara, Alfano found Pano Fimis in the second period to put the Otters up 2-0.
After two weeks of three-in-three games, the Otters will be allowed a day of rest between their first two games. On Wednesday, the Otters challenge the Owen Sound Attack on the road. They’ll get back to business on Friday away against the London Knights and finish out their week, again on the road, against the Sarnia Sting.