Tyler Challenger of the Erie Otters. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images
Tyler Challenger, Malcolm Spence and Garrett Frazer scored goals in the third period as the Erie Otters broke open a 1-1 game to defeat the Owen Sound Attack 4-1 in Ontario Hockey League action Friday evening at Erie Insurance Arena.
Martin Misiak also scored for Erie (30-24-4-2), which rode four unanswered goals to officially punch its ticket to the OHL Playoffs.
Braedyn Rogers had the lone goal for the Attack (22-32-4-3).
Rogers staked the Attack to the lead just 2:37 into the hockey game with a shot from the high slot that squeaked through Noah Erliden to make it 1-0.
They carried that lead into the second period, until some penalty trouble gave the Otters a lengthy 5-on-3. Jake Crawford was called for tripping at 11:38 of the second, and then Lenny Greenberg for delay of game – puck over glass – just 30 seconds later.
The Otters capitalized, as Misiak blasted a one-time shot from near the faceoff dot past Carter George to tie the game 1-1 with 7:18 to go in the second.
George was stellar again for the Attack. He stopped a Pano Fimis breakaway in the first. Spence was denied trying to shoot five-hole on a breakaway in the second. And Owen Sound was heavily outshot in the game.
Challenger gave Erie its first lead 3:13 into the third, finding a puck in the crease area that bounced to the back post and popped it in.
Less than two minutes later, an Attack turnover in the neutral zone and Fimis sprung Spence on a breakaway. This time Spence got the better of George, shooting high glove and scoring to make it 3-1 for Erie 5:30 into the third.
Frazer added a goal with a point shot that changed direction and found its way past George with six minutes to go. It was his first in the OHL.
Erliden made 17 saves in the win, while George stopped 36 taking the loss. The Otters outshot the Attack 40-18 while going 1 for 6 on the power play; Owen Sound was 0 for 4.
The Attack and Otters will be right back at it Saturday night, in the sixth and final meeting between the two teams this season. Game time is 7 p.m. You can hear all the action live on Kia of Owen Sound-Terry’s Trailer Service Bear Radio.
PLAYOFF UPDATE
The out of town scoreboard gave mixed returns to the Attack Friday night. Sarnia beat Guelph 5-1, and the Soo Greyhounds lost 3-2 to the Barrie Colts. The end result: the Attack and Greyhounds remain tied for the final playoff spot with seven games to go. Sarnia is now three points clear of both Owen Sound and Soo in seventh, and hold a game in hand.
TWO IN, TWO OUT
Attack defenceman David Bedkowski made his return to the lineup Friday in Erie, after missing the past 15 games with an arm injury. Bruce McDonald was also back after missing the past five with an upper-body ailment.
But the Attack were without defenceman Elliot Arnett and forward Tristan Delisle. Head Coach Scott Wray says Arnett was hurt blocking a shot in practice this week, and will be out “for the foreseeable future” with a lower-body injury.
Delisle is also dealing with a lower-body ailment, and Wray says he probably won’t be back for “at least a week.”
