The Erie Otters came out guns blazing in the third period in game two against the Kitchener Rangers, scoring four goals to get the win.
The Erie Otters will now head back to Erie in their series against the Kitchener Rangers with a 1-1 tie, and the potential to gain home-ice advantage. Kitchener could not handle Erie's third period offensive burst, as they lose game two to the lower-seeded team.
Erie has been a wild card all season long. They continue to defy expectations, and unexpected heros step up when they need a boost. In game two, the Otters had six different goal scorers step up and help ensure their 7-4 win.
Sam Alfano (2), Dylan Edwards, Malcolm Spence, Pano Fimis, Carey Terrance, and Kaleb Smith all added goals to help Erie clinch their 7-4 victory on the road.
The Otters are the lower-seeded team in this series. Even though they finished just one spot lower than the Kitchener Rangers in the Western Conference standings, the Rangers had a 13 point gap. Erie has made a tight series with a team that spent a lot of time atop the league's standings this season, proving anything can happen in the playoffs.
Sam Alfano lead the way for the Otters with his three-point performance. Alfano's knack for finding space in front of the net is how he scored both of his goals. Those big, net-front presences become crucial in the postseason, and that is exactly the role that Alfano is filling.
Goaltender Ethan Fraser's story continues to get better, as the 2003-born netminder gets his first career playoff victory in the crease for the Otters. He has 24 saves on 28 shots.
Fraser has spent the last three seasons playing in the OJHL (Junior A) as a starter, never getting a call up to the big leagues. Finally late in the season, Fraser gets the call as Erie faces injury problems in the crease. He was able to step up as soon as he entered the lineup, and Erie has learned to trust him in big games like this.
Another player with an inspirational story is Dylan Edwards, who has been bouncing up and down from the minors, and in and out of the lineup for the Otters. After his standout performance at the World Junior A Challenge, Edwards has stepped back into the lineup and is producing at incredible rates.
He had a two point performance in this game two win against Kitchener.
The Otters are not going to be an easy out — and the Kitchener Rangers are seeing that now.