OHL
The Erie Otters tied the club record for consecutive defeats on Saturday night.
But they deserved a better fate.
The Plymouth Whalers scored the winning goal on the power play with 20 seconds left in regulation to hand the Otters a 3-2 loss in Ontario Hockey League action Saturday night. The Otters (3-13-1-0) have lost 11 straight games, tying the record they set last season.
But a bizarre play led to the decisive goal. The Otters killed a Whalers’ five-minute power play late in the third period to keep the game tied at two. But moments after the man advantage, the Otters received a two-minute bench minor for an illegal substitution. An Otters’ player jumped onto the ice prior to the first stoppage after the five-minute penalty expired. A.J. Jenks then scored on a scramble in front to seal the Whalers’ (9-6-1-0) win.
Elsewhere in the OHL, it was: Owen Sound 4 Windsor 2; Belleville 4 Peterborough 1; Sault Ste. Marie 3 Ottawa 0; and Barrie 1 Sudbury 0.
At Erie, Penn., the Otter’s defence produced a stellar performance, holding the Whalers to nine shots on goal in the first two periods, including one in the second.
The Otters entered the game allowing nearly 40 shots per game. The Otters finished with a 31-25 shot advantage. One night earlier, they surrendered 61 shots to Kitchener in a 4-3 overtime loss.
Former Otter Patrick Lee fired the only shot that eluded rookie goaltender Jaroslav Janus in the opening two periods. The veteran winger, who returned to Erie for the first time since being waived last month, scored from in front 7:01 into the game to snap the scoreless tie.
That one-goal lead held until late in the second, despite six Otters’ power plays, including a 5-on-3 to start the game. The Otters failed to capitalize on several quality scoring chances.
But after splitting two defenders at the Whalers’ blue-line, centre Jordan Skellett didn’t fail. He fired a wrist shot past Whalers goaltender Michal Neuvirth to tie the score at 1 with 2:34 left in the second. Skellett had only two points in his previous 10 games.
Hodgman’s eighth goal of the season handed the Otters a 2-1 lead 4:50 into the final period. But Whalers captain Chris Terry scored short-handed with 10:18 left in regulation to tie the score at two. A giveaway at the Whalers blue-line during an Otters’ power play led to the breakaway goal. Jenks followed with the winner.
Neuvirth made 29 saves for the Whalers, while Janus turned away 22 shots for the Otters.
Owen Sound 4 Windsor 2
At Windsor, Ont., the Attack (6-11-1-0) scored on three of their first four shots and made the lead stand up in their victory over the Spitfires (11-6-0-3).
Belleville 4 Peterborough 1
At Belleville, Ont., Nick Pageau scored twice to lead the Bulls (11-3-1-1) to a victory over the Petes (8-7-0-1).
Sault Ste. Marie 3 Ottawa 0
At Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Kyle Gajewski stopped 34 shots for the shutout as the Greyhounds (14-4-1-0) beat the 67s (7-9-0-2).
Barrie 1 Sudbury 0
At Sudbury, Ont., Michael Hutchinson stopped 23 shots as the Colts (11-7-1-0) shutout the Wolves (4-15-0-0).
Source: OHL: Otters loss 11th straight game
