Article content material
The Erie Otters’ hopes of a first-round playoff match with the Western Convention-leading Windsor Spitfires stay alive.
Commercial 2
Article content material
A Windsor win in regulation on Friday would have formally eradicated the Otters from post-season play with Sarnia scoring a 7-1 win towards Saginaw.
As an alternative, the Otters rallied from a pair of one-goal deficits and bought the sport successful objective on a penalty shot in time beyond regulation to beat the Spitfires 3-2 earlier than a crowd of three,686 on the Erie Insurance coverage Enviornment.
The loss ended Windsor’s 13-game successful streak, which was the third-longest streak in franchise historical past. As properly, the Spitfires misplaced beginning goalie Matt Onuska late within the third interval when he left the ice favouring his arm.
Even with the win, Erie nonetheless trails Sarnia by a single level for the ultimate playoff spot within the Western Convention. The Otters host league-leading Hamilton on Sunday to shut out the common season whereas Sarnia faces London.
Commercial 3
Article content material
If the 2 groups are one way or the other tied after Sunday’s recreation, a one-game playoff can be held to see who faces the Spitfires in Sport 1 of quarter-final collection on Thursday in Windsor.
Friday marked the third time in six conferences this season that the Otters and Spitfires had gone to time beyond regulation to settle a recreation. Windsor had received the earlier two conferences, however couldn’t money on an influence play in time beyond regulation when the Otters have been known as for too many males on the ice.
As an alternative, after Windsor’s Wyatt Johnston seemed to be hooked after splitting a pair of Erie defencemen, the play went the opposite method and Brett Bressette, who was serving the too many males penalty, was awarded a penalty shot after being hooked by Spitfires’ captain Will Cuylle.
Bressette faked proper and tucked the puck to the stick aspect of goalie Xavier Medina, who got here on in aid of Matt Onuska with simply over two minutes left in regulation.
Commercial 4
Article content material
“I assume it’ll come right down to the wire,” Johnston mentioned in reference to Windsor’s first-round opponent. “Erie’s achieved properly towards us. That’s simply the best way issues have gone.”
Erie’s win continues a wierd season for the Spitfires towards groups close to the underside of the convention standings. In opposition to London, Flint, Sault Ste. Marie, Guelph and Owen Sound, who occupy the highest 5 spots within the convention behind Windsor, the Spitfires boast a formidable 27-6-1-2 document.
Nevertheless, the membership cut up eight video games with seventh-seeded Kitchener and misplaced 4 instances in 10 conferences with Sarnia. The Otters now boast three wins in six video games towards the Spitfires.
“I performed the sport,” Spitfires’ head coach Marc Savard mentioned. “For no matter purpose, you attempt to inform them, however they’re youngsters, see the standings and issues it’s going to be a neater recreation.”
Commercial 5
Article content material
Jacob Maillet put residence his personal rebound to offer the Spitfires an early lead lower than eight minutes into the sport, however Connor Lockhart answered simply 40 seconds afterwards and the 2 groups have been tied a 1-1 after 20 minutes.
Overager Daniel D’Amico continued his sizzling play together with his seventeenth objective within the final 13 video games to place Windsor up as soon as once more, however Daniel D’Amato got here again to get the Otters even at 2-2 after 40 minutes.
The Otters had a 3rd objective known as off for being offside late within the second interval. The puck was additionally knocked in with a excessive stick, however Erie additionally hit three posts within the recreation whereas carrying a 40-19 shot benefit.
Windsor, which couldn’t money on 4 power-play probabilities, watched the chance to win it with the person benefit fail in time beyond regulation earlier than Bressette netted the winner with 43 seconds left within the further session.
Commercial 6
Article content material
Windsor will shut out regular-season play on Saturday towards the Storm in Guelph. Sport time is 7 p.m.
Spits bits: Johnston, who holds a five-point lead for the OHL scoring title, was held off the scoresheet for simply the ninth time this season as his 12-game level streak, which had been the longest present streak within the league, got here to an finish.
Windsor ahead Pasquale Zito missed his fourth-straight recreation with an upper-body damage suffered April 2nd in Owen Sound. He won’t play Saturday in Guelph, however is hopeful to be able to return for the playoffs. Overage defenceman Louka Henault additionally missed the sport with a non-COVID-19 sickness.
Tecumseh’s Spencer Sova, who was Erie’s first-round choose in 2020, missed his fourth-straight recreation for the Otters on Friday with an upper-body damage.
Commercial 7
Article content material
jpparker@postmedia.com
twitter.com/winstarparker
Sport Abstract
Friday End result
Otters 3 Spitfires 2 (OT)
Windsor 1 1 0 0 – 2
Erie 1 1 0 1 – 3
First interval: 1. Windsor, Maillet 10 (Renwick, Abraham) 7:51, 2. Erie, Lockhart 23 (Saganiuk, Sedore) 8:31. Penalties: Thompson E (head examine) 5:49, Trip W (roughing) 12:51, Peer W (slashing) 16:45.
Second interval: 3. Windsor, D’Amico 32 (Sobolev, Maggio) 10:11, 4. Erie, D’Amato 23 (Sellan, Saganiuk) 15:26. Penalties: Kyrou E (hooking) 1:26, Sedore E (excessive sticking) 4:33.
Third interval: No scoring. Penalty: Miedema W (tripping) 8:46.
Extra time: 5. Erie, Bressette 20 (unassisted) 4:17 (ps). Penalty: Bresette E (too many males) 2:10.
Sport stats – SOG – Windsor 5 9 5 0 – 19 Erie 17 9 13 1 – 40 Aim (shots-saves) – Windsor: Onuska (37-35), Medina (17:47 of third interval) (L,18-7-1-2) (3-2). Erie: Lalonde (W,24-24-2-1) (19-17).Energy play (goals-chances) – Windsor 0-4. Erie 0-3. Referees: Brent Coulombe (22) and Drew Jackson (21). Linesmen: Tommy Hughes (45) and Raymond King (95). Att.: 3,686 at Erie Insurance coverage Enviornment.
