Thursday Highlights: Connor in control

Thursday April 9, 2015

Another first star performance from Connor McDavid and a commanding Otters victory sent the Erie faithful home happy on Thursday night after a 5-2 victory over the London Knights in Game 1 of their Western Conference Semi-Final series. Watch   #ERvsLDN

McDavid was a force, setting up teammates Dylan Strome and Alex DeBrincat while scoring twice, including burying the shorthanded game winner in the latter stages of the second period.

The Otters outshot London 46-18 in the game, but came out of the first period trailing 1-0 despite taking London to task on the shot clock by a tally of 21-3 in the opening 20 minutes.

After Mitchell Marner and Max Domi scored to give the Knights a 2-0 lead, the Otters took over as McDavid’s pair along with additional goals from Strome, DeBrincat and a shorthanded breakaway by Nick Baptiste secured the Game 1 victory.

Shifting to the far reaches of Sault Ste. Marie, the Greyhounds took a 9-3 victory over the Guelph Storm on Thursday to take a 2-0 series lead. Watch   #SSMvsGUE

After scoring twice on Wednesday, Nick Ritchie buried a hat-trick on Thursday while overage winger Jean Dupuy tallied twice and 16 of the 18 players in the Hounds lineup found the scoresheet.

Sault Ste. Marie outshot Guelph 52-29 as Chris Marchese answered twice for the Storm in the loss.

The 2015 OHL Playoffs continue on Friday night with three games on the schedule, including a pair of Eastern Conference matchups.

Friday April 10
London Knights at Erie Otters – Game 2, 7:00pm (Rogers TV Ch. 13, Rogers Super Sports Pak Ch. 471)
Niagara IceDogs at Oshawa Generals – Game 1, 7:35pm (Rogers TV Ch. 10, TVCogeco Ch. 10)
North Bay Battalion at Barrie Colts – Game 1, 7:30pm (Rogers TV Ch. 10, TVCogeco Ch. 12, Rogers TV Sports+ Ch. 368/369)

Click here for the 2015 OHL Playoff Expanded Brackets

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