GIBBONS STOPS 21 AS OTTERS FALL IN GUELPH
Guelph, Ontario – For the final time in the 2022-23 season, the Erie Otters would hit the road. The penultimate game of the season would take them to a building they haven’t won in in the last two seasons, the Sleeman Centre in Guelph. A top Midwest Division Storm team had found a 5-0 record against the Otters coming into the final Friday night game of the team’s season. Jacob Gibbons would get the start in net for the Erie Otters, looking to steal a win on Guelph’s final home game of the year.
A slow start would plague the Erie Otters in the opening 20 minutes, as the team would muster officially just two shots on goal. On the opposing side, Guelph would rack up 13 shots enroute to a pair of goals. In the game’s first power play before the halfway mark of the first, Braeden Bowman (31) would net his 15th goal on the man-advantage of the season. Just under three minutes later, it would be rookie defenseman Zackary Sandhu (2) to find the back of the net from a mid-slot shot to move Guelph to a 2-0 lead. Erie would be unable to convert on its lone power play of the opportunity, but finish the period with a successful kill. Faceoffs would be even at 8-8, but the Otters would be outshot 13-2 in the two-goal deficit.
Through the first half of the second period, it would be the Erie Otters who would lead in shots, 4-3. Erie would get the first power play early in the frame, but be unable to convert yet again. A mostly even period would see limited opportunities on either side, but a more defensive period would give way to just 12 total shots – six per each side. Near the end of the period, a two-on-one would develop for the Storm that would lead to Max Namestnikov (36) making it a 3-0 lead for Guelph. Erie would have just eight shots through 40 minutes, being outshot 18-8 in a 3-0 deficit.
In the first three minutes of the third period, the Erie Otters would finally cross the double-digit shots plateau. Erie would be awarded back-to-back power play opportunities at the halfway mark of the period, but would be limited in shot opportunities on their man-advantage. For the second-straight period, it would be just 12 total shots (six per each), as the score would remain the same from the end of period two to the close of period three. Guelph would take a 3-0 victory, handing the Erie Otters their second game this season without a goal. Erie would acquire just 14 shots in the loss.
The 2022-23 season comes to a conclusion on Saturday night at the Erie Insurance Arena, as the team will host the Sarnia Sting for Fan Appreciation Night. All night long, fans will have a chance to win (or catch!) great prizes for the Erie Otters and their corporate partners. It’ll also be Nurse Appreciation Night, with all nurses receiving a free ticket to the game by showing their Badge or ID at the Erie Insurance Arena Box Office.
