Otters explode for 8-2 win over Peterborough
Erie, Pennsylvania – Erie’s offense exploded for an 8-2 win over the Peterborough Petes Saturday night. Dylan Strome became the third Otter in team history to reach the century mark, hitting 100 points with a goal and an assist.
The Otters jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first period. After killing an early penalty to Kurtis MacDermid, the Otters used the second penalty to Mason Marchment to start a rush shorthanded. Nick Baptiste had a breakaway that was stopped by Matthew Mancina’s toe before having another big chance that was also stopped by Mancina. Connor McDavid picked up the next breakaway for the Otters and, after out-racing the defense, put the puck behind Mancina for a 1-0 lead halfway through the period. Not long after, a flurry in front of the Peterborough net gave Strome a chance to poke the puck under the pads of Mancina and the Otters carried a 2-0 lead into intermission.
Nick Betz nearly gave the #Otters the 3-0 lead to start the second on a rebound, but he wasn’t able to settle the puck before it bounced over his stick. With a great pass from Kyle Maksimovich, Taylor Raddysh put the puck – and himself – behind Mancina to put the Otters up by three just over halfway through the period.
On a delayed Erie penalty, Greg Betzold broke through the Otters defense and put the Petes on the board. Three minutes later on the power play, Baptiste scored 13 seconds into the man advantage to give the Otters their three-goal lead back. Peterborough had multiple chances to close out the period, but a combined effort of Devin Williams and defense kept the puck away from the back of the net.
Two close chances for the Otters started the third, but the third time was a charm. Remi Elie put the Otters ahead 5-1 barely five minutes in. Forty seconds later, Alex DeBrincat gave Erie a five-goal lead from the high slot from Elie and MacDermid. The offense kept rolling as McDavid scored his second of the game from Troy Donnay and MacDermid to make it 7-1 and Peterborough pulled Mancina in favor of Dylan Wells.
McDavid nearly scored his first OHL hat trick on a breakaway, but he was slashed by Matthew Timms. Cory Genovese and Cameron Lizotte dropped the gloves in the same stoppage, and the Otters went to the power play with exactly five minutes to go. Jonathan Ang made it 7-2 on a shorthanded breakaway, but DeBrincat got it right back for the Otters while still on the power play for the 8-2 final.
McDavid notched five points in the win and continued his point streak to 21 games. DeBrincat, Baptiste and Elie all had three points, and Strome and MacDermid both picked up two. The Otters are 9-1 when McDavid and Strome both score in a game.
The Otters welcome the Guelph Storm Wednesday night at home before heading to Owen Sound to take on the Attack Friday and Saturday night.
The Iron Workers Local Union No. 3 Ironmen of the Game:
1. Connor McDavid – 2G, 3A
2. Remi Elie – 1G, 2A
3. Alex DeBrincat – 2G, 1A
