SOVA’S 16TH NOT ENOUGH IN LOSS TO KITCHENER
Erie, Pennsylvania – The final week of the Ontario Hockey League season is here, and the Erie Otters replicate the previous week’s game set to close things out: starting with a midweek home tilt against the Kitchener Rangers on Wednesday. This would be the final game of the season between Erie and Kitchener, a team the Otters have found plenty of success against on home ice. The game night would be a second-annual celebration of Women’s Empowerment Night, with pregame recognition of women of the Otters organization and the OHL.
The Otter power play would be the story of the first period; for better and for worse. 3:50 into the game and :08 into the man-advantage, Spencer Sova (16) would strike for his ninth power play goal of the season and give Erie a 1-0 lead. With another power play due up for the Erie Otters minutes later, it would be the Rangers who would strike back, as Matthew Sop would race up the ice and feed captain Francesco Pinelli (39) for shorthanded goal. As far as scoring would concern, that would do it through 20 minutes – Erie and Kitchener knotted up at a 1-1 game. Shots would favor Kitchener 13-10.
Out of the break, the Kitchener Rangers would breakout in period two. Kitchener would outshoot Erie in a lopsided 21-6 second period. In the opening eight-and-a-half minutes, Kitchener would find the back of the net three times from Francesco Arcuri (47), Carson Rehkopf (29), and once again, the captain Francesco Pinelli (40) to quickly jump to a 4-1 lead. The Rangers would dominate the second period, holding a three-goal lead, and a 34-16 shot advantage.
In similar fashion to the period prior, the Kitchener Rangers would strike for a pair in the opening five minutes. Reid Valade (32) would open things up just :90 into the period, and a hat trick goal from Francesco Pinelli (41) would be the final goal of the night, just 4:53 into the frame. Nolan Lalonde would stop 40/46, but Erie would fall 6-1 at the Erie Insurance Arena.
Two games remain for the Erie Otters in the 2022-23 season; the final road game of the season on Friday night in Guelph, and the conclusion of the season on Saturday night for Fan Appreciation Night against the Sarnia Sting.
