Sting down Otters, 4-1

Sarnia, Ontario – The day started with a major trade between the Erie Otters and Sarnia Sting, and ended with the two teams taking the ice against each other – each with their respective spoils from the trade. This would be the first career games for Erie’s Alexis Daviault and Sarnia’s Christian Kyrou playing for someone other than their draft clubs, as the two would line up against each other. The Wednesday night affair at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena in Sarnia would be the first of the season between the two teams, and the first game of Erie’s final trip before the holiday break. Not to be lost in the shuffle of the day, the game would also feature the Major Junior hockey debut of 2023 Top NHL Draft prospect Ondrej Molnar, who officially joined the Otters on December 13.

Opportunities would come in droves for the Erie Otters in the opening minutes, as Sam Alfano would have two high-quality opportunities. Despite Erie’s chances, it would be the Sarnia Sting who would strike first, as Porter Martone (4) would one-time a shot past Nolan Lalonde for the game’s first goal, 7:06 in. The Sting attack would continue, as Sasha Pastujov (19) would fire one from the high left side with 16:53 gone by. With a instigation penalty against Sarnia on a fight won by Artyom Kulakov, the Erie Otters would go on the power play. With the puck on Ondrej Molnar’s stick, he would push it toward Brett Bressette (13) who would put it away for the power play goal with three seconds remaining. Erie would make it a one-goal game heading into the second, leading in shots 12-9.

The second period would wholly belong to the Sting, as the home team would outshoot Erie 15-5 in the middle frame. The lone goal of the period would come for Sarnia, as Christian Kyrou (9) would strike on the delayed power play opportunity for his first as a Sting. Trailing 3-1, and in shots 24-17, the Otters would look for a big push in the third.

Erie would have limited opportunities offensively in the third period, as the Sarnia Sting would control most of the time in their offensive end. A 9-4 shot advantage for the Sting would lead them to the lone goal of the period, as Nolan Burke (19) would strike 12:54 into the frame. Erie would fall 4-1 in the contest, outshot 33-21. This is Erie’s fourth-straight loss in regulation.

Erie’s road trip will continue as they invade the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario, on Thursday night. This will be the third meeting of the season between the Western Conference foes, with each team winning a game at the Erie Insurance Arena. The final game of the trip will come on Saturday night, when Erie travels to Saginaw, Michigan, to battle the Spirit.