WE’RE IN! Point in Comeback SOL Secures Erie First Playoff Appearance Since 2017
Out for revenge after last night’s overtime loss in the final seconds, the Otters would open the first period with something to prove. Just fifteen seconds into the game, Ondrej Molnar (19) would find the back of the net, his second goal of the weekend against the Attack. Four minutes later, Owen Sound would equalize with Colby Barlow (34) making it a 1-1 game. The Otters would go on the penalty kill, their first of the evening. Cedrick Guindon (24) would bury the puck for the Attack, and it would be the first penalty kill goal the Otters have allowed since Februrary 29th against the Peterborough Petes. Back on the penalty kill after a Ty Henry boarding call, the Otters would take advantage of a neutral zone turnover and Bruce McDonald (17) would tie it up for Erie. Still on the penalty kill one minute later, Owen Sound’s Ben Cormier (13) would strike to give themselves a 3-2 lead. The Otters would smell the blood in the water after seven minutes of an offensive onslaught, and it would be Pano Fimis (22) to tie the game back up for Erie at 3 with less than a minute left in the first. The frame would end tied 3-3 with the Otters outshooting the Attack 10-9 but 0-2 on penalty kills.
The first five minutes of the second period would have Erie written all over it. The Owen Sound Attack wouldn’t even be able to put up a shot before Dylan Edwards (13) would score to pull the Otters ahead 4-3. Three minutes later, the Attack would put up their second shot of the frame and sneak it past Jacob Gibbons to tie the game up once again 4-4. Ben Cormier (14) would make it 5-4 for Owen Sound halfway through the second, and the Otters would bring Ethan Fraser on for Jacob Gibbons. With eight minutes left in the frame, the Otters would go on the power play after an Owen Sound penalty but would be unable to capitalize on the man advantage. With ninety seconds left in the second period, Cedrick Guindon (25) would give the Attack their first multi-goal lead of the game and make it a 6-4 game.
The Otters would find themselves on the penalty kill just under two minutes into the third and final period. After a successful kill, their first of the game, the Otters would be back to even strength and they would go on the hunt. With just under six minutes in the period, Owain Johnston (5) would find the back of the net to cut the Owen Sound lead to 6-5.
It would be a quiet start to the third period with neihter team finding the back of the net until the halfway mark, when Dylan Edwards (14) scored the second unanswered Erie goal as well as the one to tie the game up 6-6. With no team able to score again in regulation, the game would find itself going into overtime.
After yesterday’s OT loss to the Attack, the Otters would be looking to right some wrongs this evening. Otters’ offense kept the puck in their offensive zone for the majority of the five-minute overtime period, but would come up short each time. Tight defensive play on both sides would send this game into a shootout. Ondrej Molnar would step up first for the Otters and be unable to convert. Ethan Fraser would deny Deni Goure, giving Dylan Edwards the opportunity to put Erie ahead. Carter George in net for the Attack would keep the Otters scoreless. Sam Sedley would sneak the behind Fraser to put the Attack up, and Pano Fimis would be unable to convert.
Otters hockey isn’t done yet, because with tonight’s point, Erie would punch their ticket to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Erie will now prepare for a three-game weekend, starting at home on Wednesday against London for Women’s Empowerment Night (pres. by Erie Women’s Empowerment), play their final game against an Eastern Conference foe on Thursday in Niagara, and return home for Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Celebration.
