Almost There
ERIE, PA- The Brampton Steelheads fall 7-4 to the Erie Otters after three unanswered third-period goals.
A comeback was almost within reach for the Steelheads after taking the lead from the Otters in the second period. However, with a multi-point game from multiple Otters’ players and three unanswered goals in the remaining 20 minutes, Erie came out the victors of the matchup.
The first half of period one saw a game of back-and-forth with little flow, as each team had equal time in the offensive end. However, an Otter’s goal got things going for both teams, establishing an exciting matchup between the East and West.
Pano Fimis got the game’s icebreaker following a misplay in the Steelheads zone. After getting the puck off the boards in an unlucky clearing attempt, Fimis drove to the net and sent the puck over the shoulder of Jack Ivankovic.
Using the momentum from their first goal, the Otters continued to push hard into the Steelhead’s zone, and with an unfortunate delay of the game call on the Trout, Erie extended their lead to two.
Matthew Schaefer got the puck at the blue line and sent a hard shot to the front of the net. Catching Schaefer’s shot, Sam Alfano made a quick deke around Ivankovic and backhanded it into the net.
The Otters’ lead did not last long, as less than two minutes later, Mason Zebeski brought the score within one. A scramble out front of the Otters’ net allowed Jack Van Volsen to get the puck off the defence and make a sharp pass to Zebeski, who was waiting in the slot. Driving the net, Zebeski followed through on the play and buried the puck past Noah Elriden.
While the Otters went into the second with a one-goal lead, the Steelheads saw a comeback in sight and were ready to get things going. Coming out hot in period two, the Trout scored three unanswered goals to give them the lead.
Luke Misa got things started with an early power-play goal to tie the game at two. After Dylan Edwards’ goalie interference penalty, the Trout quickly set up shop in the Otters’ end. Porter Martone sent a pass out front to Van Volsen, who got a shot on Elriden, causing a huge rebound that allowed Misa to snipe the puck into the open net.
Shortly after, Jakub Fibigr gave the Steelheads the lead. After Kieran Witkowski sent a pass over to Fibigr at the left point, he sent a shot on goal that slipped past Elriden’s five-hole.
The Steelheads’ final goal of the game came once again from Zebeski. Adam Zidlicky got the play started as he led the rush up ice and drove to the net, allowing him to get a shot on Elriden. With the defence covering off Zidlicky, Zebeski caught the rebound and buried it between the pipes.
Despite some major saves from Ivankovic and numerous offensive chances to extend the Steelheads’ lead, the power of special teams allowed the Otters to tie the game at four.
Malcolm Spence brought Erie within one on the penalty kill after a 2-on-1 opportunity in the Steelheads zone. Carey Terrance got the puck at the Otter’s blue line before bringing it into the Trout’s end. Instead of taking the shot, he sent the puck to Spence, who got it on the net.
The period’s final goal came on the Otter’s power play after Troy Patton was called for slashing. At the left side of the blue line, Edwards sent a pass to the middle to Terrance, who one-timed it through traffic into the back of the net.
After an exciting second period, it was anyone’s game going into the third. However, after an early goal gave the Otters some momentum, Erie took the lead and the eventual victory.
Spence got the first goal in the third after a bad bounce off a missed shot gave him the open lane to send it between the pipes.
While the Steelheads attempted the battleback, their scoring chances could not find the back of the net. The Otters win was then cemented after Alfano scored two back-to-back goals, giving him a hattrick and the 7-4 victory.
The Steelheads look for a comeback on Friday at home for their Miracle on Main Street Game. For tickets, click here.
