KINGSTON, Ontario – The Erie Otters enjoyed a strong start in Kingston Friday night.

They held a two-goal lead in the opening 4½ minutes. But it was all downhill from there.

The Frontenacs scored nine of the game’s final 10 goals, including four straight goals in a decisive seven-minute stretch of the second period, to hand the Otters a 9-3 loss in front of 3,180 at K-Rock Centre.

Anthony Cortellessa and Jake Evans scored less than three minutes apart to give the Otters (8-41-3-2) an early two-goal lead. But Spencer Green’s goal at the 11:48 mark of the first sparked a streak of seven consecutive goals that was capped by Cody Alcock’s second of three goals five minutes into the third.

The Otters allowed their second-highest goal total of the season. They surrendered 10 in a 10-2 loss to Guelph Sept. 30. The Frontenacs (17-32-3-3), which are last in the Eastern Conference, finished with 57 shots on goal against overage goaltender Ramis Sadikov (48 saves).

The Otters have allowed 119 shots in their last two games.

Evans scored his second goal of the night early in the third for the Otters, which played without veterans Dane Fox and Adam Pelech, who reportedly were out with the flu. Alcock had four points to lead the Frontenacs, while Alex Gudbranson (goal, two assists) and Darcy Greenaway had three assists.

Kingston had points from 15 of their 18 skaters. The Otters return to action Sunday at 2 p.m. in Ottawa.

SUMMARY

Frontenacs 9, Otters 3

Erie  2  0  1  —  3

Kingston  1  4  4  —  9

1^st Period — 1. Anthony Cortellessa 3 (Cairns, Brown), 1:40 (pp). 2. Erie, Jake Evans 5 (Harper), 4:30. 3. Kingston, Spencer Green 6 (Nevins, Dupuy), 11:48. Penalties — Stokes (K) unsportsmanlike conduct, 1:29; Maaskant (E) high sticking, 5:12; Morbeck (K) elbowing, 18:28.

2^nd Period — 4. Kingston, Nathan Cull 4 (Gudbranson, Steele), 5:06. 5. Kingston, Cody Alcock 19 (Moffat, Kujawinski), 9:00. 6. Kingston, David Mazurek 6 (Hutchinson), 10:28. 7. Kingston, Cull 5 (Alcock, Greenaway), 11:48. Penalties — McCarthy (E) 5-min. fighting, :59; Morbeck (K) 5-min. fighting, :59; Donnay (E) 5-min. fighting, 19:27; Stokes (K) 5-min. fighting, 19:27.

3^rd Period — 8. Kingston, Alex Gudbranson 2 (Morbeck), 4:42. 9. Kingston, Alcock 20 (Gudbranson, Greenaway), 5:00. 10. Erie, Evans 6 (Wood, Grant), 7:13 (pp). 11. Kingston, Alcock 21 (Steele, Greenaway), 9:24 (pp). 12. Kingston, Ryan Kujawinski 12 (Jenkins, Stokes), 18:02. Penalties — Kingston, too many men (served by Mazurek), 6:01; Grant (E) holding, 8:42; Steele (K) goaltender interference, 12:51.

Shots on goal — Erie, 9-17-7—33; Kingston, 22-19-16—57.

Goaltenders — Erie, Ramis Sadikov 4-20-3-1 (57 shots, 48 saves); Kingston, Jacob Riley 1-2-0-1 (33 shots, 30 saves).

Power plays — Erie (2-4), Kingston (1-2).

Referees — Tom Sweeney, Joe Park. Linesmen — Andrew Brown, Jordan Browne.

Attendance — 3,180.

Three stars

* Cody Alcock, Frontenacs (3 goals, assist) ** Nathan Cull, Frontenacs (2 goals) *** Alex Gudbranson, Frontenacs (goal, 2 assists)

The Erie Otters are interested in center Justin Kea for the 11th overall pick in the OHL Priority Selection on Saturday, a source speaking on condition of anonymity said. Kea, 16, had 22 goals, 44 points and 44 penalty minutes in 51 games for the Central Ontario Wolves‘ midget minor team this season.

Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner and general manager, didn’t disclose his top choice for a first-round pick.  Instead, he said, “Everybody talks about him.” Bassin also said he has evaluated Ottawa Jr. 67′s defenseman Alex Gudbranson, younger brother of current Kingston defenseman Erik Gudbranson. “We looked at (Alex) Gudbranson,” Bassin said. “He’s on everybody’s list.”

Before the 2008 draft, Erik Gudbranson told Bassin he wouldn’t report because he needed to attend a French-only school. “(Alex) Gudbranson told me that even though his brother wanted (a French school), he’s not sure if he wouldn’t just come (to Erie),” Bassin said.

- Victor Fernandes