OHL Playoff Roundup: Otters are First team to Advance after Sweeping the Sting

Credit Sarnia Sting 

The Erie Otters used four straight offensive explosions, scoring no less than five goals and scoring nine goals on two separate occasions to sweep the Sarnia Sting in four straight games to punch their ticket to the next round.

Home teams will be listed first and the Playoff Series record will follow.

Game #1: Erie (6) Vs. Sarnia (3) 1-0 Erie 

The Erie Otters defeated the Sting by a score of 6-3 in front of 3,075 fans to start the first round of the OHL playoffs. After Sarnia scored three minutes into the first period the Otters went on to score three straight goals and eventual score the game winner at 13 minutes of the second period. The Otters were led by Kyle Maksmovich who scored two goals and nearly had the natural hat-trick if it weren’t for one of his teammates tipping a shot. Sarnia goalie Justin Fazio stopped 45 of 51 shots in the loss.

Game #2: Sarnia (3) Vs. Erie (9) 2-0 Erie 

The Erie Otters once again defeated the Sarnia Sting by a score of 9-3 in front of 2,828 fans. The Otters jumped out to an early lead just 9 minutes into the game and never looked back, scoring four straight goals before Sarnia was able to respond. The Otters were led  by forwards Dylan Strome (2 goals) and Anthony Cirelli (2 goals, 1 assist). Rookie goaltenders Aiden Hughes and Blair Coffin combined to stop 36 of 45 shots in the losing effort for Sarnia.

Game #3: Sarnia (3) Vs. Erie (5) 3-0 Erie 

The Erie Otters pushed Sarnia to the brink of elimination as they yet again beat the Sting by a score of 5-3 in front of 2,273 Sting fans. Going into the third period the Sting were down by a score of 4-1, they managed to climb back in it with two straight goals before Otters forward Kyle Pettit scored the empty-net insurance marker with one second to go in the game. Sarnia goaltender Aiden Hughes stepped back into the cage and stopped 35 of 39 shots in yet another loss.

Game #4: Erie (9) Vs. Sarnia (3) Otters Win Series 4-0 
Erie completed their first round sweep of the Sarnia this evening when they defeated the Sting 9-3 in front of a home crowd of 3,623 excited fans. The Otters were led by captain Dylan Strome who scored his fourth and fifth goals of the playoffs including the game winner in the first period to send the Otters onto the second round. Sarnia goaltender Justin Fazio came back after a two game absence and stopped 34 of 43 Erie shots in the loss. Sarnia has been eliminated from playoff contention and the Erie Otters will play the lowest remaining seed in the Western Conference.