What: Plymouth Whalers (5-5-1-1) at Erie Otters (3-9-1-0)
When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Where: Tullio Arena
On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)
Players to watch
Erie – C Greg McKegg (8 goals, 14 assists, 22 points), C Mike Cazzola (6-12-18), RW Shawn Szydlowski (6-7-13), LW David Broll (2-5-7), D Tyler Hostetter (3-6-9)
Plymouth – C Alex Aleardi (8-7-15), RW Stefan Noesen (7-7-14), LW Tyler Brown (5-9-14), RW Robbie Czarnik (4-8-12), D Beau Schmitz (1-7-8, plus-6)
Fast facts
Erie – The Otters have lost seven straight games, their longest losing streak since setting the franchise record of 16 consecutive defeats in the 2007-08 season. … They look to rebound from a 1-3 start at home. … D Brett Cook (concussion) rejoined the lineup last weekend. … RW Anthony Luciani, who has a cast on his injured wrist, isn’t expected to play this week. Coach Robbie Ftorek said Tuesday the length of the healing process will determine the timetable for his return. … Ftorek said Ds David Shields (back) and Mitch Gaulton (hand) and Fs Brett Appio (leg) and Connor Crisp (concussion) haven’t been “ruled into” the lineup for tonight’s game. … McKegg ranks second to Owen Sound LW Garrett Wilson (16-8-24) in the OHL’s scoring race. … McKegg also stands among the top 15 in goals as well as second in assists and first with three short-handed goals. … Cazzola is tied for seventh in scoring. … Szydlowski has six goals in the past nine games. … Broll has one point in his past eight games. … The Otters have allowed 36 goals during their skid. They rank in the bottom three with 56 goals against. … G Ramis Sadikov has five losses and a no-decision in his last six starts (4.63 goals-against average, .852 save percentage). … Through the club’s Hockey for the Hungry event, fans can bring a non-perishable food item to a local State Farm agent or the Otters’ front office to receive a voucher for a $2 ticket to tonight’s game. … Buck Night returns tonight with $1 Smith’s hot dogs, Coke products, beer and popcorn.
Plymouth – C Tyler Seguin, the No. 2 pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, remains with the Boston Bruins. The NHL club has until before his 10th game, set for Nov. 5 against the Washington Capitals, to return Seguin (48-58-106) to the Whalers without starting the first year of a three-year, entry-level contract. … Noesen already has surpassed his 33-game totals (3-5-8) as a rookie last season. … G Scott Wedgewood has enjoyed a strong start to the season (5-4-0-1 record, 2.91 GAA, .904 save pct., 1 shutout). … The Whalers have .500 records at home (3-3-0-0) and on the road (2-2-1-1). … D Max Iafrate, the Whalers’ 2010 OHL first-round pick and son of former NHL defenseman Al Iafrate, has no points, a minus-1 rating and 25 penalty minutes in his first 10 games.
Up next: vs. Windsor (Friday, 7 p.m.), vs. Oshawa (Saturday, 7 p.m.)
- Victor Fernandes
