The Buffalo Sabres have added another former Erie Otter into their organization.

Shawn Szydlowski has signed a NHL entry-level contract with the Sabres. He will report to the AHL’s Portland Pirates, where he rejoins Mark Jeanneret, the Otters’ former play-by-play broadcaster and media relations director. He’s the Pirates’ play-by-play voice and director of communications and team services.

The Sabres already have former Otters Brad Boyes, Tim Connolly and Steve Montador on the roster.

Szydlowski, 20, an undrafted free-agent forward, set career highs with 41 goals, 37 assists and 78 points in his final season with the Otters. He finished his four-year career ranked fifth in franchise history with 94 goals and sixth in points with 197. Szydlowski attended an Ottawa Senators’ rookie camp before this season. The Pirates played at the Providence Bruins on Friday night.

He joins three current and former Otters – forwards Anthony Luciani (Florida Panthers) and Greg McKegg (Toronto Maple Leafs) and defenseman David Shields (St. Louis Blues) – to earn deals the past few weeks. Defenseman Tyler Hostetter signed with the Philadelphia Flyers before the 2009-10 season.

In other Otters’ news, Otters forward Andrew Yogan has signed an amateur tryout contract with the Connecticut Whale, the New York Rangers’ AHL affiliate. Yogan trained with the club during his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery. The Whale faced the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday.

Yogan, the Rangers’ fourth-round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, had three goals and four points in 10 games this season. He has 55 goals and 108 points in 174 OHL games with the Otters and Spitfires.

Luciani, who was assigned to the AHL’s Rochester Americans, was expected to make his professional debut on Friday night against the Binghamton Senators. He could face McKegg Saturday night, when Rochester meets the Toronto Marlies in Toronto. The Peoria Rivermen (Shields) and Adirondack Phantoms (Hostetter) faced the Chicago Wolves and Manchester Monarchs on Friday night.

- Victor Fernandes

The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League are proud to announce that right wing Shawn Szydlowski has signed an entry-level contract with the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres.

Szydlowski completed his Otters career sixth in all-time point scoring with 197 and tied for fifth in goals with 94. He scored a career-high of 41 goals in his overage campaign, and was an invite to Ottawa Senators rookie camp before the season.

The native of Michigan was initially drafted in the 10th round of the 2006 OHL Priority Selection by the Otters. His father, Steve, played professionally for three seasons, including the 1985-86 season with the Erie Golden Blades of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League.

Szydlowski is expected to report to the American Hockey League’s Portland Pirates, where he will reunite with former Otters play-by-play broadcaster Mark Jeanneret. Former Otters Brad Boyes, Tim Connolly and Steve Montador all play for the Sabres, making up the largest contingent of Otters alumni within the NHL. Earlier in the week, Otters forwards Anthony Luciani and Greg McKegg signed pro contracts with the NHL’s Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs, respectively.

- From Erie Otters news release

What: No. 5 Erie Otters at No. 4 Windsor Spitfires

When: Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.

Where: WFCU Centre – Windsor, Ontario

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters have rallied from a 3-1 series deficit by beating the Spitfires, the two-time defending OHL and Memorial Cup champions, in overtime the past two games. … They tied the series at three games apiece with a 6-5 overtime win in Game 6 Sunday. That was the Otters’ first home playoff win in OT since May 10, 2002, when Sean Courtney scored to seal the franchise’s only OHL championship. … The Otters have won two straight playoff games for the first time since the first round in 2005 against Kitchener. … The Otters have won two of three games in Windsor, both by one goal (2-1 in Game 1 and 6-5 in OT in Game 5). … The Otters’ three wins in this series equals the combined total since their last series victory in 2004 (first round vs. Sarnia). … The franchise is 0-5 in series when trailing 3-1 in games. The Otters have rallied to force Game 7 twice but lost both times (first round vs. London in 1998, second round vs. Sault Ste. Marie in 2000). … The Otters have tied their playoff record with three overtime games in one series (first round vs. Kitchener in 2005). … RW Anthony Luciani (7-3-10) was named OHL player of the week after totaling six goals and nine points last week. … Luciani and C Phil Varone (3-10-13) combined for eight goals and 17 points in the past two games. … Linemate Brett Thompson scored the OT winner on Sunday, his first career playoff goal. … G Ramis Sadikov (3-2-1 record, 4.07 goals-against average, .907 save percentage) has made 50 and 48 saves, respectively, in the past two games – the second and the third-best single-game totals in his career. He made 51 in a first-round loss to the Spitfires last season. … F Andrew Yogan (sick) isn’t expected to play tonight after missing the past three games. “I told him the other day that we’re probably going to go with what we’ve got,” coach Robbie Ftorek said Sunday. “He’s fine, but he doesn’t have the hands and the timing that the other players have because he only played nine games (in the regular season because of shoulder surgery).”

Windsor – The Spitfires have squandered consecutive opportunities to win the series, including squandering 3-0 and 4-3 leads on Sunday. … According to The Windsor Star, the Spitfires have never lost a series when leading 3-1 in games (9-0). This is the third time a series has reached a seventh game (1991 vs. London, 2000 vs. Sarnia). … G Jack Campbell (3-1-2, 3.42, .903) has allowed 16 goals on his last 124 shots after stopping 105-of-112 shots in the first three games. … The Spitfires have recorded 40 or more shots on goal in all six games, including more than 50 in the past two games. … D Adrian Robertson (2-7-9) leads the team in scoring and is tied for second in scoring by defenseman in the playoffs. … RW Jake Carrick (4-4-8), C Stephen Johnston (4-4-8) and LW Tom Kuhnhackl (3-5-8) also rank among team leaders in scoring.

Up next: TBD

– Victor Fernandes

Brett Thompson picked the perfect time to score his first OHL playoff goal.

The veteran winger scored 8 minutes, 51 seconds into overtime to seal the Erie Otters’ 6-5 win in Game 6 in front of 4,059 at Tullio Arena on Sunday. His goal evened the series at 3-3 and forced Game 7 on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. at WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario.

Yet any momentum from the Otters’ 6-5 overtime win in a must-win Game 5 didn’t carry over into the opening period of another must-win game. The Spitfires gained control with three straight goals.

Tom Kuhnhackl scored arguably his easiest goal of the season 8:32 into the opening period. He leisurely slipped a rebound into an open net while players from both teams, including Otters goaltender Ramis Sadikov, laid on the ice after a scramble for the puck to the left of the Otters’ net.

Then the Spitfires scored twice – both by Taylor Carnevale – in less than 3 minutes late in the period to take a commanding 3-0 lead. He fired a rebound past Sadikov a second or two before the net kicked off its supports for a 2-0 lead with 5:09 left. He scored again with 2:38 left for his third goal of the series.

However, all but one of Windsor’s three-goal lead vanished in a 26-second span of the second.

Anthony Luciani scored off an assist from Phil Varone to move the Otters within 3-1 at the 3:29 mark of the period. Then Brett Cook’s rebound of Brett Appio’s shot sliced Windsor’s lead to 3-2 at 3:55.

Luciani had two goals and two assists to give him six goals and eight points in the past two games. He leads the OHL with seven playoff goals. Varone had a goal and three assists after totaling a goal and four assists in Game 5. They teamed with Thompson to produce four goals and nine points in the win.

The Spitfires responded 32 seconds later on Stephen Johnston’s goal, which extended their lead to 4-2.

But Luciani continued his torrid stretch with his second of the game, sixth in the last two games and a OHL-leading seventh of the playoffs to move the Otters back within 4-3 with 1:07 left in the period.

The Otters tied it on the power play, as Varone’s point shot eluded Campbell 6:49 into the third period. Derek Holden (two assists) and Thompson had the assists on the goal. The Spitfires rallied late to tie the score for the second straight game. This time, Adrian Robertson scored on a rebound through a crowd in front of Sadikov to tie the score at 5 with 3:59 left.

Yet Thompson’s goal kept the Otters’ playoff hopes alive. The teams combined for 120 shots on goal, with the Otters’ 67 shots setting a new franchise playoff record.

- Victor Fernandes

Series schedule

No. 4 Windsor vs. No. 5 Erie

Game 1 – Erie 2, Windsor 1

Game 2 – Windsor 4, Erie 3 (2OT)

Game 3 – Windsor 6, Erie 2

Game 4 – Windsor 7, Erie 4

Game 5 – Erie 6, Windsor 5 (OT)

Game 6 – Erie 6, Windsor 5 (OT)

Game 7 – Tuesday at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.

Series tied 3-3

* If necessary

SUMMARY

Otters 6, Spitfires 5 (OT)

Windsor  3  1  1  0  —  5

Erie  0  3  2  1  —  6

1^st Period — 1. Windsor, Tom Kuhnhackl 3 (Khokhlachev, Carrick), 8:32. 2. Windsor, Taylor Carnevale 2 (Rychel, Ellis), 14:51. 3. Windsor, Carnevale 3 (Robertson, Posa), 17:22. Penalties — Shields (E) high sticking, 15:10.

2^nd Period — 4. Erie, Anthony Luciani 6 (Varone), 3:29. 5. Erie, Brett Cook 1 (Appio), 3:55. 6. Windsor, Stephen Johnston 4 (Ryan), 4:27. 7. Erie, Luciani 7 (Shields, Holden), 18:53. Penalties — Appio (E) roughing, 7:28; Ryan (W) goaltender interference, 11:49.

3^rd Period — 8. Erie, Phil Varone 3 (Holden, Thompson), 6:49 (pp). 9. Erie, Derek Holden 2 (Luciani, Varone), 10:56. 10. Windsor, Adrian Robertson 2 (Kassian, Ryan), 16:01. Penalties — Ellis (E) holding, 6:39; Cazzola (E) roughing, 10:13; Robertson (W) roughing, 10:13.

Shots on goal — Windsor, 29-10-10-4—53; Erie, 30-15-14-8—67.

Overtime — 11. Brett Thompson 1 (Varone, Luciani), 8:51. Penalties — None.

Goaltenders — Windsor, Jack Campbell 3-1-2 (67 shots, 61 saves); Erie, Ramis Sadikov 2-2-1 (53 shots, 48 saves).

Power plays — Windsor (0-2), Erie (1-2).

Referees — Bob Langdon, Scott Ferguson. Linesmen — Kevin Hastings, Jesse Wilmot.

Attendance — 4,059.

Three stars

* Brett Thompson, Otters (GW goal, assist) ** Phil Varone, Otters (goal, three assists) *** Anthony Luciani, Otters (2 goals, 2 assists)

WINDSOR, Ontario – The Erie Otters played with fire against the Windsor Spitfires.

But the Otters’ penalty kill stopped the Spitfires on 10-of-11 chances on the power play on the way to a 2-1 win in Game 1 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series at WFCU Centre on Thursday night.

Phil Varone scored short-handed in the first period. Anthony Luciani scored the eventual winning goal early in the second. Ramis Sadikov stopped 40-of-41 shots. The Otters will take a 1-0 series lead into Game 2 on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Tullio Arena.

The Otters controlled play at the outset and also had several scoring opportunities. But it took a Spitfires’ power play for the Otters to score their first goal of the postseason. Varone and Brett Thompson turned a short-handed, 2-on-1 chance into the game’s opening goal with 4:49 left in the first period.

Varone redirected Thompson’s cross-ice pass past Spitfires goaltender Jack Campbell. Yet the Spitfires seemed to gain momentum late in the period. That momentum carried over into the second, even after Thompson set up Luciani’s goal 1:20 into the period for a 2-0 Otters’ lead.

Then at the 3:04 mark, Otters winger Brett Appio was called for hooking. Six seconds later, Stephen Johnston beat Otters goaltender Ramis Sadikov to slice Erie’s lead in half at 2-1. Zack Kassian and Adrian Robertson earned assists on the power-play goal.

After that, the surging Spitfires had several quality chances to the tie the score. But the Otters, especially their penalty kill, held off the Spitfires to take the one-goal lead into the third. Windsor outshot the Otters 15-10 in the period. But Sadikov stopped 14 of those 15 shots.

The Spitfires enjoyed four more power plays in the third, including a 5-on-3 for 46 seconds late in the period. But the Otters thwarted all of them to secure a hard-earned victory.

- Victor Fernandes

Series schedule

No. 4 Windsor vs. No. 5 Erie

Game 1 – Erie 2, Windsor 1

Game 2 – Saturday at Erie, 7 p.m.

Game 3 – Monday at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.

Game 4 – March 30 at Erie, 7 p.m.

Game 5 – April 1 at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.*

Game 6 – April 3 at Erie, 4:30 p.m.*

Game 7 – April 5 at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.*

Erie leads series 1-0

* If necessary

SUMMARY

Otters 2, Spitfires 1

Erie  1  1  0  —  2

Windsor  0  1  0  —  1

1^st Period — 1. Erie, Phil Varone 1 (Thompson, Shields), 15:11 (sh). Penalties — Ryan (W) slashing, 1:35; Rychel (W) hooking, 7:48; Cook (E) unsportsmanlike conduct, 7:48; Kassian (W) charging, 8:32; Appio (E) interference, 11:02; Holden (E) checking from behind, 13:25; Pelech (E) holding, 18:51.

2^nd Period — 2. Erie, Anthony Luciani 1 (Thompson, Varone), 1:20. 3. Windsor, Stephen Johnston 1 (Kassian, Robertson), 3:10 (pp). Penalties — Appio (E) hooking, 3:04; Vail (W) cross checking, 7:54; Paton (E) hooking, 10:37; Yogan (E) interference, 13:22; Cook (E) tripping, 15:13; Cook (E) 5-min. fighting, 15:13; Carrick (W) 5-min. fighting, 15:13; Cazzola (E) slashing, 17:27; Ebert (W) slashing, 17:27.

3^rd Period — None. Penalties — Luciani (E) tripping, 5:19; Szydlowski (E) delay of game, 8:59; Appio (E) goaltender interference, 15:37; Szydlowski (E) high sticking, 16:51.

Shots on goal — Erie, 13-10-14—37; Windsor, 15-15-11—41.

Goaltenders — Erie, Ramis Sadikov 1-0-0 (41 shots, 40 saves); Windsor, Jack Campbell 0-1-0 (37 shots, 35 saves).

Power plays — Erie (0-3), Windsor (1-11).

Referees — Dave Lewis, Scott Hoberg. Linesmen — Sean Pindar, Ryan Lachine.

Attendance — 5,524.

Three stars

* Ramis Sadikov, Otters (40 saves) ** Jack Campbell, Spitfires (35 saves) *** Brett Thompson, Otters (2 assists)

SARNIA, Ontario – The Erie Otters needed one more goal to regain fourth in the Western Conference.

Brett Appio made it happen, as his goal with 8 minutes, 47 seconds left in the third period snapped a tie and handed the Otters a critical 7-6 win in front of 4,110 at RBC Centre on Thursday night.

With their season-high, seventh straight win, the Otters (39-26-1-1) moved into a tie with Windsor for fourth place, a spot that guarantees home-ice advantage in the first round of the OHL playoffs.

The Otters also secured a first-round series with the Spitfires. Windsor lost 5-0 at home to Saginaw on Thursday, leaving the Spitfires and Otters with 80 points apiece.

Windsor has a game in hand on the Otters, which complete the regular season tonight in Saginaw. The Spitfires travel to Sault Ste. Marie tonight and to Saginaw on Saturday. Sixth-place Plymouth (76 points), which didn’t play Thursday, plays at Kitchener tonight and hosts Guelph on Saturday.

Sarnia (24-35-5-2) made the Otters work hard for their latest win.

The Otters trailed 2-1 midway through the first period before scoring five unanswered goals in a 16½-minute span of the first and second periods to build a 6-2 lead. But the Sting rallied to tie the score at 6 with four straight goals, capped by Nail Yakupov’s power-play goal 8:28 into the third.

Yet Appio’s unassisted goal snapped the tie less than three minutes later. Appio has 12 goals in 54 games this season, one more than he scored in 114 games the past three seasons.

Shawn Szydlowski led the Otters with two goals – his 40^th and 41^st of the season – and an assist.

Brett Cook, David Shields, Phil Varone and Connor Crisp also scored for the Otters. Anthony Luciani and Mike Cazzola had two assists apiece. Ramis Sadikov earned the win despite allowing six goals on 32 shots. Rookies Yakupov (goal, four assists) and Alex Galchenyuk (three goals, assist) led the Sting with a combined four goals and nine points.

- Victor Fernandes

SUMMARY

Otters 7, Sting 6

Erie  4  2  1  —  7

Sarnia  2  1  3  —  6

1^st Period — 1. Erie, Connor Crisp 5 (McDonnell), 6:09. 2. Sarnia, Alex Galchenyuk 29 (Yakupov, Peters), 8:04. 3. Sarnia, Joe Rogalski 7 (Galchenyuk, Yakupov), 9:14. 4. Erie, David Shields 6 (Luciani), 9:27. 5. Erie, Phil Varone 32 (Luciani, Thompson), 12:08. 6. Erie, Shawn Szydlowski 40 (Cazzola), 16:37 (sh). Penalties — Appio (E) high sticking, 8:22; Hottot (S) slashing, 8:22; Crisp (E) holding, 15:10; Flemington (S) hooking, 18:36.

2^nd Period — 7. Erie, Brett Cook 8 (Hostetter, Szydlowski), :34 (pp), 8. Erie, Szydlowski 41 (McKegg, Cazzola), 5:52. 9. Galchenyuk 30 (Yakupov), 7:54. Penalties — Holden (E) hooking, 11:00; Ritchie (S) hooking, 11:57; Flemington (S) hooking, 14:52; McDonnell (E) unsportsmanlike conduct, 18:51; Yakupov (S) high sticking, 18:51.

3^rd Period — 10. Sarnia, Galchenyuk 31 (Yakupov, Peters), 3:47. 11. Sarnia, Brett Ritchie 21 (Flemington, Chiarlitti), 4:36. 12. Sarnia, Nail Yakupov 48 (Kerbashian, Chiarlitti), 8:28 (pp). 13., Erie, Brett Appio 12 (unassisted), 11:13. Penalties — Varone (E) roughing, 1:14; Yakupov (S) roughing, 1:14; Luciani (E) holding, 6:37; Yogan (E) roughing, 6:37; Flemington (S) roughing, 6:37; Szydlowski (E) roughing, 11:43; Flemington (S) roughing, 11:43; Hottot (S) interference, 11:43; Yogan (E) cross checking, 14:25.

Shots on goal — Erie, 14-9-9—32; Sarnia, 8-12-12—32.

Goaltenders — Erie, Ramis Sadikov 35-17-11 (32 shots, 26 saves); Sarnia, Troy Passingham 17-15-3-2 (32 shots, 25 saves).

Power plays — Erie (1-5), Sarnia (1-5).

Referees — Ryan Hutchison, Joe Monette. Linesmen — Glenn Anderson, Matt Prozaki.

Attendance — 4,110.

Three stars

* Nail Yakupov, Sting (goal, 4 assists) ** Alex Galchenyuk, Sting (3 goals, assist) *** Shawn Szydlowski, Otters (2 goals, assist)

What: Erie Otters (39-26-1-1) at Saginaw Spirit (40-21-3-2)

When: Friday, 7:11 p.m.

Where: Dow Event Center – Saginaw, Mich.

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (47 goals, 43 assists, 90 points), C Brett Thompson (44-38-82), C Phil Varone (32-47-79), RW Shawn Szydlowski (41-37-77), RW Anthony Luciani (29-47-76)

Saginaw – LW Josh Shalla (46-24-70), RW Jordan Szwarz (27-39-66), C Vincent Trocheck (25-35-60), Ivan Telegin (19-40-59), LW Brandon Saad (27-28-55)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters enter their regular-season finale on a seven-game winning streak – their longest since the middle of the 2008-09 season. … The Otters need a win to become the third team in franchise history to reach 40 wins. The Otters won 45 games in 2000-01 and 41 in 2001-02. … They lost the first three meetings with the Spirit this season, but the teams last met on Dec. 29. … McKegg needs three goals to join Cory Pecker (53 in 2001-02) as the only players in franchise history to reach 50. With a career-high, 14-game point streak (nine goals, 24 points), McKegg has joined Pecker (99 in 2001-02), Rob Hisey (96 in 2003-04) and Zack Torquato (93 in 2009-10) as the only Otters to reach 90 points in a season. … Luciani needs one goal to reach 30 for the second straight season. He would be the fifth Otter to reach that mark this season, which would be the most in the OHL. … The Otters have set a new franchise record with 277 goals, surpassing the 271 scored in 1998-99. … They are second in the league in goals, behind only Mississauga St. Michael’s (281).

Saginaw – The Spirit clinched the West Division title and No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs with a 5-0 win at Windsor on Thursday. … They rank in the league’s bottom half in goals scored (237), but are fourth in goals against (198). … They have rebounded from a stretch of six losses in eight games with two straight wins. … Shalla ranks fifth in the league in goals. … G Mavric Parks ranks among the top seven in wins (27), goals-against average (2.94) and save percentage (.914).

Up next: OHL playoffs – first round vs. Windsor (dates and times TBD)

– Victor Fernandes

What: Erie Otters (38-26-1-1) at Sarnia Sting (24-34-5-2)

When: Thursday, 7 p.m.

Where: Sarnia Sports & Entertainment Centre – Sarnia, Ontario

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (47 goals, 42 assists, 89 points), C Brett Thompson (44-37-81), C Phil Varone (31-47-78), RW Anthony Luciani (29-45-74), RW Shawn Szydlowski (39-35-74)

Sarnia – RW Nail Yakupov (47-46-93), LW Kale Kerbashian (36-50-86), C Alex Galchenyuk (28-48-76), LW Tyler Peters (19-37-56), D Joe Rogalski (6-25-31)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters enter the final weekend of the regular season on a season-high, six-game winning streak. It’s their longest streak since the middle of the 2008-09 season. … The Otters need wins in their final two games to become the third team in franchise history to reach 40 wins. The Otters won 45 games in 2000-01 and 41 in 2001-02. … The Otters have won two of three meetings this season. Both wins were at home. … McKegg needs three goals to join Cory Pecker (53 in 2001-02) as the only players in franchise history to reach 50. He needs one point to join Pecker (99 in 2001-02), Rob Hisey (96 in 2003-04) and Zack Torquato (93 in 2009-10) as the only Otters to reach 90 points in a season. … McKegg had a career-high, seven-game goal streak snapped in Saturday’s win against Kitchener. But he extended his career-high point streak to 13 games (nine goals, 23 points). He is tied for fourth in the OHL in goals and ranks eighth in points. … Thompson and Szydlowski also rank among the top 11 in goals. … Luciani needs one goal to reach 30 for the second straight season. He would be the fifth Otter to reach that mark this season, which would be the most in the OHL. Niagara also has four 30-goal scorers. … The Otters need two goals in the final two games to break the single-season franchise mark of 271 set in 1998-99. … They are third in the league with 270 goals scored, one behind Windsor (271) and nine behind Mississauga St. Michael’s (279). … G Ramis Sadikov has a 2-0 record, 2.40 goals-against average and .912 save percentage in two games since returning from a leg injury. … He ranks second in single-season franchise history with 56 games and 3,175 minutes played, behind only Josh Disher (63 games and 3,524 minutes in 2003-04). … The Otters have 12 hat tricks, one shy of the club record set in 1998-99.

Sarnia – The Sting are eliminated from playoff contention for the second straight year. … They have earned points in three straight games (2-0-1) to move within one point of Sault Ste. Marie in the battle to stay out of last place in the Western Conference. … They are 6-9 under interim coach/general manager Trevor Letowski since Dave MacQueen, a former Otters coach, was fired Feb. 6. … They have allowed 307 goals, second most in the league to Barrie (340). … Yakupov leads all rookies in goals and points. He also is tied for third overall in goals and sixth in points. … Galchenyuk, the No. 1 pick in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection, is second among rookies in scoring.

Up next: at Saginaw (Friday, 7:11 p.m.)

– Victor Fernandes

Erie Otters goaltender Ramis Sadikov is simply getting warmed up.

The final four games of the OHL’s regular season are merely a tune-up for the postseason.

“The playoffs are going to be fun,” Sadikov said after a 5-1 win against Plymouth in front of 3,212 at Tullio Arena on Friday night. He stopped 22-of-23 shots in his return from a leg injury.

Sadikov hadn’t played since injuring his leg Feb. 19 against Guelph. But he was sharp throughout this key win, which moved the Otters (37-26-1-1) past the Whalers into fifth place in the Western Conference.

“I feel like I was after the summer,” Sadikov said, referring to the much-needed rest he enjoyed the past three weeks. Before the injury, he had played in 54 of the Otters’ first 58 games.

Now he has three more games left to prepare for the most anticipated playoffs in Erie since the 2001-02 championship season. The Otters also have three games left to earn home-ice advantage in the first round.

The Otters (76 points) trail fourth-place Windsor (78) by two points in the standings. The Whalers (35-24-1-4) are a point behind the Otters in sixth. But both teams have a game in hand on the Otters.

“It feels good to get that win,” said Brett Thompson, who had two goals – his 43^rd and 44^th of the season – and an assist. “They were only one point ahead of us (entering the game), and we could play them in the playoffs. It was good to make our mark. If we play them (in the playoffs), we know we can beat them.”

The Otters made life easy for Sadikov with arguably their most consistently dominant effort of the season.

They outshot the Whalers 43-23. Sadikov faced only five shots in the opening period, which allowed him to ease his way into the game. Meanwhile, the Otters ended Whalers goaltender Matt Mahalak’s night early after scoring twice on their first four shots to take a quick 2-0 lead.

Greg McKegg opened the scoring on the power play 7 minutes, 25 seconds into the period with his 47^th goal of the season. He moved into second on the franchise’s single-season goals list. He needs three to become the second Otter to reach 50 goals. He needs six to tie Cory Pecker’s mark of 53 set in 2001-02.

Less than two minutes later, Phil Varone turned a steal at the Whalers’ blue line into a 2-0 lead.

“The guys took advantage of some scoring opportunities early,” coach Robbie Ftorek said.

The Otters sealed the win with two second-period scores for a 4-0 lead, highlighted by Anthony Luciani’s wild goal. Luciani outraced goaltender Scott Wedgewood to the puck in front of the net and poked it into the net as he sailed backwards over Wedgewood before crashing to the ice.

“It wasn’t pretty, but it was a good, hard-working goal,” Thompson said of Luciani’s goal.

Thompson added his first goal of the night with 29 seconds left in the period. He scored his second goal 1:34 into the third. Sadikov’s third shutout of the season and his career was next on the Otters’ list.

But Stefan Noesen dashed those hopes with 7:33 left in the game.

“Rammer is one of the best goalies in the league,” Thompson said.

Sadikov was sharp from start to finish, Ftorek said. Apparently, Ftorek is accustomed to that.

“He’s not a bad goaltender,” Ftorek said, with tongue firmly in cheek.

* News and notes: The Otters have tied their season high with five straight wins. … They have won four straight and 12-of-13 at home. … Varone (goal, two assists) also had three points. … Luciani had a goal and assist. … Wedgewood stopped 36-of-39 shots for the Whalers in relief of Mahalak.

VICTOR FERNANDES can be reached at 870-1716 or by e-mail.

Battle for home ice

The Erie Otters are two points out of fourth place in the Western Conference, which would secure home-ice advantage in the first-round of the OHL playoffs:

Pos. Club        GL       Pts.      Next game

4. Windsor        4          78         Sunday vs. Sarnia

5. Erie  3          76         Saturday vs. Kitchener

6. Plymouth       4          75         Sunday vs. Sault Ste. Marie

What: Kitchener Rangers (38-18-4-4) at Erie Otters (37-26-1-1)

When: Saturday, 7 p.m.

Where: Tullio Arena

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (47 goals, 41 assists, 88 points), C Brett Thompson (44-37-81), C Phil Varone (31-47-78), RW Anthony Luciani (29-45-74), RW Shawn Szydlowski (38-35-73)

Kitchener – RW Jason Akeson (24-80-104), RW Gabriel Landeskog (33-29-62), LW Matthew Tipoff (24-33-57), C Michael Catenacci (15-37-52), RW Tobias Rieder (23-26-49)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters have won four straight against the Midwest Division rival Rangers after losing the first three meetings. The Otters can clinch the season series with a win tonight in their final home game of the regular season. … Their current five-game winning streak began with a 2-1 home win against Kitchener Feb. 26. … The Otters need wins in their final three games to become the third team in franchise history to reach 40 wins. The Otters won 45 games in 2000-01 and 41 in 2001-02. … The 22 home wins are tied for second on the franchise list with the 2009-10 club. The 2000-01 club set the mark with 26 wins. … McKegg has goals in a career-high seven straight games, two shy of equaling Brad Boyes’ team record set from Nov. 4-25, 2000. … McKegg also has points in a career-high 12 straight games (nine goals, 22 points). … The Otters need seven goals in the last three games to break the franchise mark of 271 set in 1998-99. … They are tied for fourth in the league with 265 goals scored.

Kitchener – The Rangers lost 3-2 at home to Owen Sound on Friday, dropping them by five points behind the Attack with four games left in the battle for the Midwest Division and Western Conference lead. … They have lost three straight. … Akeson leads Niagara C Ryan Strome (101 points) by three points in the OHL scoring race. … Akeson also leads the league in assists. … D Ryan Murphy (25-52-77), the second-leading scorer among all defensemen, has missed the last three games with concussion-like symptoms, according to CTV News Southwestern Ontario. … F Matia Marcantuoni, the club’s first-round pick in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection, has missed a month reportedly with an ankle injury.

Up next: at Sarnia (Thursday, 7 p.m.), at Saginaw (Friday, 7:11 p.m.)

– Victor Fernandes