Williams becomes all-time wins leader in 7-3 victory
Devin Williams became the Erie Otters franchise wins leader as a goalie in a 7-3 victory against the Owen Sound Attack at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre Wednesday night.
Erie would get right to it just 1:18 in the game when Nick Betz directed the puck past Michael Niven for his fourth of the season. Kyle Maksimovich and Jake Marchment tallied assists on the goal. Owen Sound would bounce back to tie the score at one apiece on Jaden Lindo’s sixth of the season. His power play goal was scored with 14:25 remaining. From that point on, the Otters started filling up the net. Mitch Byrne scored his first career OHL goal on assists from Betz and Darren Raddysh. Less than three minutes later, Alex DeBrincat lit the lamp to give Erie the 3-1 advantage. Assists on his goal went to Marchment and Travis Dermott. Betz would keep the pressure on and get his second of the night at 17:11 in the period. Former Otters goalie Dan Dekoning would replace Niven after the Betz goal. The Otters held the 4-1 lead going into the break.
The Otters continued their dominance in the second period beginning with a goal from Jordan Sambrook. His third of the season gave Erie the four-goal lead at 4:06. Once again, Marchment and Maksimovich had helpers on the score. Sambrook followed up his goal with an assist on Dylan Strome’s second of the season halfway through the period, extending the lead 6-1. With 6:32 remaining in the second period, DeBrincat netted number two on the night, giving Erie it’s largest lead of the night 7-1.
The six-goal lead was plenty for the Otters to hang on and win the game, but the third period would see the Attack score two more power play goals, both by Ethan Szypula.
With the win, the Otters earned their 10th win of the season to improve to 10-1-1-0. Devin Williams finished with 27 saves on 30 shots in his 73 win in an Otters uniform, a franchise record for an Erie goaltender.
Marchment finished with a career-high four points with four assists. The Otters’ line of Betz, Marchment, and Maksimovich finished with a total of ten points (two goals, eight assists).
The Otters will play their second road game in as many nights tomorrow when they visit the Barrie Colts at 7 p.m.
The Iron Workers Local Union No. 3 Ironmen of the game:
1) Nick Betz – 2 G, 1A
2) Alex DeBrincat – 2 G
3) Ethan Szypula – 2 A
