Williams makes 61 saves, Otters beat IceDogs
Posted February 15, 2012 11:30 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
THE CANADIAN PRESS
Devin Williams did everything but score a goal for the Erie Otters.
Fortunately for Williams, the Otters’ offence woke up just in time to reward the rookie goaltender for the best game of his career.
Williams stopped a career-high 61 shots and rookie Sondre Olden scored in the game’s final minute in Erie’s 2-1 comeback win against the Eastern Conference-leading Niagara IceDogs on Wednesday night.
“What can you say? The kid was amazing,” said Otters assistant coach and former NHL goaltender Peter Sidorkiewicz.
For the game’s first 55 minutes, it appeared the Otters’ struggling offence would spoil one of the best performances in franchise history. The Otters (8-40-5) rarely tested former teammate Chris Festarini in the Niagara goal.
Rookie Connor Brown finally solved Festarini on a power play when his shot off a rebound trickled past the IceDogs’ goalie with 5:55 left in the game.
“The guys found a way to put one in,” Sidorkiewicz said.
The Otters struck again on their sixth and final power play of the night. Brown’s pass found Olden to the right of Festarini. Olden scored on the Otters’ 18th and final shot of the game with 43.6 seconds to finish off the IceDogs (35-16-3).
Elsewhere in the OHL, Ottawa beat Belleville 6-4 and Sudbury defeated Sault Ste. Marie 5-3.
Williams stopped all 21 shots he faced in the first period.
He stopped 23-of-24 in the second, with only Freddie Hamilton’s shot from in close slipping through with 5:02 left in the period.
Williams turned aside all 17 shots in the third, which gave the Otters the opportunity they needed to rally.
Brown finished with a goal and assist for the Otters, while Luke Cairns had two assists.
67’s 6 Bulls 4
At Belleville, Ont., Tyler Toffoli got his league-leading 42nd goal of the year to pace Ottawa (34-14-6) past the Bulls (26-26-1).
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Wolves 5 Greyhounds 3
At Sudbury, Ont., Michael Sgarbossa had a goal and two assists, extending his point streak to 10 games, as the Wolves (30-19-4) beat Sault Ste. Marie (22-27-6).
