Otters Beat Owen Sound 4-3 (1-9-13)
By: Craig Smylie (Credit: Paul Roper)
Updated: January 10, 2013
Brown scored his first goal of the night 1:50 into the game to give the Otters an early lead. Brown tipped in a centering pass from Luke Cairns to tally his 21st goal of the season. Zach Nastasiuk then tied the game for Owen Sound at 3:53.
Connor Crisp made it a 2-1 lead for the Otters at 14:55 after he flicked a wrist shot off the post for his 18th goal of the season. Connor McDavid, who returned after a stint with Team Ontario at the Under-17's, had the lone assist on the goal.
The first period ended in wild fashion as the Attack tied the game at two with 39 seconds left on a goal by Cameron Brace. Fourteen seconds later, Brown scored his second of the game after he stuffed in a shot through the blocker of Hope.
That lead was also short-lived, as Gemel Smith tied the game at three with 2.6 seconds remaining in the first period. Oscar Dansk, making his first start for Erie since December 9 after a stint with Team Sweden at the World Juniors, was pulled in favor of Devin Williams at the start of the second.
Williams would ensure that the Attack wouldn't get on the board for the remainder of the night, as he made 24 saves in relief during the final 40 minutes. The Otters then had a chance to win the game after a delay of game penalty by Steven Janes in the final minutes, which they capitalized on.
McDavid slithered a pass from the right corner to the front of the net, and Brown banged in his hat trick goal with 34.7 seconds to play to give the Otters a 4-3 lead they would not relinquish. The hat trick was Brown's second of the season, and the fourth of his OHL career.
The win over Owen Sound was Erie's first since October 7, 2011, snapping an eight-game losing streak against their Midwest Division rival.
The Otters embark on a five-game road trip that begins Friday night at 7:11 p.m. against the Saginaw Spirit. Listen to all the action on Fox Sports Radio AM 1330 The Fan starting at 7:00 p.m. with the Erie Federal Credit Union Pre-Game Show.
Locastro-Bonini Insurance Three Stars of the Game
No. 1 Star - Connor Brown, Erie - Hat trick, GWG
No. 2 Star - Devin Williams, Erie - 24 saves, no goals allowed
No. 3 Star - Connor McDavid, Erie - two assists
