Erie Otters' first OHL home playoff game in seven years ends with overtime loss
The Erie Otters, and by association 4,052 of their fans, were harshly reminded Tuesday that hockey is a 60-minute game.
In the case of their latest Ontario Hockey League playoff against Kitchener, occasionally longer.
The Rangers rallied from a three-goal deficit for a 4-3 overtime victory vs. the Otters in game three of the teams’ Western Conference quarterfinal series at Erie Insurance Arena.
Justin Bottineau became Kitchener’s hero 7 minutes, 57 seconds into the extra period. The left winger’s dramatic goal occurred when he wristed the puck high to the glove side of goaltender Ben Gaudreau, who returned to Erie’s crease for the first time in more than two months.
When Bottineau’s shot nestled into the Otters’ net, Kitchener’s players collectively celebrated in the middle of the rink.
Bottineau’s goal gave the Rangers a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series. Game four is back at EIA on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Otters coach Stan Butler discussed Tuesday’s outcome in his postgame comments.
Butler, who recently surpassed 800 games behind the bench for Canadian Hockey League teams, spoke as someone who’s experienced his share of teams that squandered leads like the one Erie enjoyed.
“We have a lot of inexperienced guys when it comes to the playoffs,” Butler said. “When we got up 3-0, I think they were too focused on cutting corners and trying to get the fourth (goal) instead of just playing the proper way. It probably took until the third period, when (Kitchener) tied the game, that they started to play well again.”
“The overtime? Well, that’s just hockey.”
Dylan Edwards gave Erie its 3-0 advantage 1:12 into the second period. It was the right winger’s fourth goal over the series’ first three games.
Sam Alfano and Kaleb Smith recorded the Otters’ first and second goals during the first period. Smith’s goal occurred off a turnover and a one-on-one chance against Kitchener goalie Jackson Parsons.
However, that advantage wasn’t enough for the Otters, who trailed by multiple goals early in the series’ first two games at Kitchener.
The Rangers’ Adrian Misaljevic and Antonio Pugliese each scored in the second period. Bottineau also was responsible for their tying goal midway through the third period.
Butler returned to the issue of the Otters easing up later in his postgame comments.
“There were guys (Tuesday) who, if they’re going to play beyond this level, they’ve got to realize it’s a 200-foot game,” he said. “When you cut corners, you end up on dead-end streets.”
Gaudreau finally a go
The first 2,000 fans who entered the arena Tuesday received a yellow “Defend the Den” towel.
All who attended watched Erie’s first OHL home playoff game since May 12, 2017. That was the day the Otters won that year’s Robertson Cup tournament with an OT win against Mississauga.
However, the return of playoff hockey in Erie wasn’t the only story line ahead of the opening puck drop. It got company when the Otters listed Gaudreau as their starting goaltender.
Gaudreau, an overager whom Erie acquired in trade with Sarnia last October, had been idle since he suffered a foot injury during a Jan. 21 game at Sault Ste. Marie. Although the former San Jose Sharks draft pick was projected to return if the Otters made the playoffs, a specific return date wasn’t determined until last weekend.
The two-plus months of physical rehabilitation wasn’t the worst part of the recovery process, according to Gaudreau.
The tediousness of it was another matter.
“To be honest, it was very boring,” Gaudreau said. “Coming here, doing the same thing every day and watching guys skate while you’re (trying to) strengthen, it made for a boring process.”
“But the staff we had here, and especially ‘Coop’ (head trainer Andrew Kupniewski), I can’t thank them enough.”
Gaudreau had a regular season record of 20-11-2-0 in net for Erie at the time of his injury.
He recorded 23 saves in his return for the Otters, who lost even though they outshot the Rangers 43-27.
“I thought he was good considering he hadn’t played for two months,” Butler said. “He gave us a chance to win. That’s all you can ask with any goalie on any team.”
“But I do feel like we let him down a bit.”
Fimis up for Tilson Trophy
Pano Fimis, who assisted on the goals by Alfano and Edwards, learned Monday he was Erie’s nominee for Red Tilson Trophy. The award is annually presented to the OHL’s most outstanding player for its regular season.
Fimis, 19, was an easy choice for the Otters. The center from Richmond Hill, Ontario, was their leading scorer with 76 points (25 goals and 51 assists).
Fimis is in line to become Erie’s fifth Tilson recipient. The Otters’ list of winners includes Brad Boyes, a rare two-time honoree (2000-01 and 2001-02) and current Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid (2014-15).
More: Erie Otters even OHL playoff series with Easter victory at Kitchener
Game six status
At the earliest, the Otters and Rangers won’t know until after Thursday’s fourth game if there will be a sixth in their series.
That game, if needed, is scheduled at EIA next Monday at 7 p.m.
Scheduled is the vital word, but for a reason that has nothing to do with hockey.
The sixth game would start less than four hours after a solar eclipse will leave northwestern Pennsylvania in total darkness for roughly three minutes. Most local high school and college sports formerly postponed or cancelled events scheduled that day because of an unprecedented number of out-of-town residents expected to converge on Erie County.
Otters general manager Dave Brown informed OHL officials about that cosmic phenomenon when dates for the series were being considered. Although he strongly advised them not to schedule a playoff in Erie that day, the plea was dismissed.
Brown informed the Erie Times-News before Tuesday’s game that rescheduling the series’ potential sixth and seventh games could still occur. The seventh game is currently next Tuesday at Kitchener.
“As of right now, we’re business as usual,” Brown said. “We still have Monday as the date (for game six).”
Other conference results
Tuesday’s other conference quarterfinal saw London also prevail 4-3 in OT.
Unlike Kitchener, though, the top-seeded Knights took a 3-0 series lead against Flint. They beat the host Firebirds when Landon Sim scored at 11:59 of the extra period.
London can clinch a series sweep if it wins Thursday’s game in Michigan.
The third-seeded Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and second-seeded Saginaw Spirit also secured 3-0 series leads on Monday.
The Soo claimed a 5-4 OT win at Guelph. Owen Allard netted the game-winner 57 seconds into extra time.
Allard scored during a ‘Hounds’ power play that carried over from regulation. Guelph’s Charlie Paquette was whistled for a check to the head with 15 seconds left in the third period.
The Spirit also are game away from a series sweep via their 2-1 win at Owen Sound. Joey Willis’ goal with 11 seconds left in the second period held up as Saginaw’s go-ahead score.
Series schedule
March 29: Kitchener 6, Erie 3
Sunday: Erie 7, Kitchener 4
Tuesday: Kitchener 4, Erie 3 OT (Kitchener leads series 2-1)
Thursday: Kitchener at Erie, 7 p.m.
Friday: Erie at Kitchener, 7 p.m.
April 8: Kitchener at Erie, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
April 9: Erie at Kitchener, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Overtime loss dampens Erie Otters' first OHL home playoff since 2017
