Otters 12-0-0-1 with 5-2 victory over Plymouth
Erie, Pennsylvania – The Otters secured their 12th win of the season with two late insurance goals to defeat the Plymouth Whalers 5-2. Seven different players earned their place on the score sheet, and Connor McDavid scored his 200th OHL point in the win.
Nick Betz wasted no time scoring his sixth goal of the season to give the Otters a 1-0 lead 43 seconds into the first period. With the primary assist on the goal, McDavid scored his 200th career point, and Kurtis MacDermid was awarded the secondary assist. A minute and twelve seconds later, Plymouth tied the game at one with a goal from Bryce Yetman.
Alex DeBrincat had a chance to give the Otters another lead, but was stopped by Alex Nedeljkovic. Nedeljkovic couldn’t stop the second chance, though, and DeBrincat put the Otters up 2-1 with help from McDavid and Jesse Saban.
With Travis Dermott in the box for interference, McDavid brought the puck into the Whalers zone and beat multiple Plymouth defenseman before meeting Nedeljkovic in the crease and putting the puck in the net shorthanded to give the Otters a 3-1 lead. Betz picked up his second point of the period with the only assist.
The second period was full of chances for both teams. Plymouth pulled within a goal on a tally from Matt Mistele to make it 3-2. Shaun Bily rang the puck off Nedeljkovic’s mask before the Whaler’s netminder stopped a chance on a shot from Betz directly in front of the net. As Victor Crus Rydberg left the box, the puck travelled just in front of him, resulting in icing instead of a breakaway. Devin Williams turned away a few heavy shots, keeping the Whalers off the board for the rest of the period.
Goaltending continued to be a trend in the third period. With a flurry of activity followed by a shot by Betz one-on-one, Nedeljkovic made save after save on the Otters. With Erie on the penalty kill after McDavid was called for closing his hand on the puck, Kyle Pettit laid his body on the line and Williams blocked the rebound to keep the Whalers from tying the game. Nedeljkovic blocked McDavid on a small breakaway, keeping the Whalers from falling further behind.
The Otters might have been playing more defensively, but that didn’t stop Darren Raddysh from feeding McDavid for the two-goal lead late in the third. Plymouth pulled Nedeljkovic for the extra attacker with just under two minutes to play. Troy Donnay sent the puck sailing down the ice from deep in the defensive zone with 30 seconds left and put it in the empty net for the Otters final 5-2 victory.
The win pushes Williams’ regulation-win streak to nine games while McDavid’s point streak reaches all 13 games. DeBrincat’s 14th of the season keeps him on top of the OHL leaderboard, with McDavid right behind with 13. Donnay’s empty-netter gives him a career-high three goals, and Betz has 15 points in eight games. With the assist on Donnay’s goal, MacDermid tallied his ninth point in nine games.
The Otters stay at home Saturday night to host the Ottawa 67’s for the only time this season at 7 p.m.
The Iron Workers Local Union No. 3 Ironmen of the Game:
3. Alex Nedeljkovic – 31 saves
2. Nick Betz – 1G, 1A
1. Connor McDavid – 2G, 2A
