ST. CATHARINES, Ontario – The Erie Otters mounted a comeback with four goals in the third period Thursday night.
But that outburst wasn’t enough to overcome Niagara’s scoring barrage throughout the Otters’ 7-4 preseason loss at Gatorade Garden City Complex. The Otters also allowed seven goals in a preseason loss to Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL) last weekend.
The IceDogs scored three goals in the first period and one more in the second to build a 4-0 lead.
Ryan Strome scored early in the third to hand the IceDogs a 5-0 lead before Anthony Cortellessa and Nick Betz scored off rebounds to move the Otters within 5-2. Derek Todosichuk regained Niagara’s four-goal lead at 6-2. Then Luke Cairns scored the first of his two goals to pull the Otters within three again at 6-3. Strome capped his five-point outing with his second goal, and Cairns completed his three-point night, in the game’s final minutes.
Connor Brown had two assists and Cortellessa added a goal and assist for the Otters, which fell to 1-2 in the preseason heading into the finale against Owen Sound Sunday at 2 p.m. in Elmira, Ontario. Travis Wood and Stephen Harper also had an assist apiece. Keinan Brown allowed all seven goals for the Otters. Anthony DiFruscia had two goals for the IceDogs.