OSHAWA, Ontario – The Erie Otters are nearly healthy for the first time this season.

Except for forwards Connor Crisp (shoulder) and Sondre Olden (reported minor injury), the Otters were at full strength for Wednesday night’s game against Oshawa at General Motors Centre.

But that didn’t keep the Otters from falling 4-1 to the Generals in Erie’s second-half opener. Special teams led to Erie’s downfall. The Otters (5-28-1-1) failed to score on six power-play chances while surrendering two power-play goals and a short-handed score.

The Otters squandered three power-play chances, including a pair of two-man advantages, in the opening four minutes of the game. However, the Generals (14-18-1-3) scored twice on a 5-on-3 late in the period.

Christian Thomas, a 54-goal scorer a season ago, scored his 14^th goal of the season with 2:13 left in the first to open the scoring. Then Scott Laughton scored 49 seconds later to hand the Generals a 2-0 lead.

Oshawa’s lead reached 3-0 on Jimmy McDowell’s first goal of the season – and seventh in 139 career games – with 1:01 left in the second period. The Otters finally snapped goaltender Daniel Altshuller’s bid for his first career shutout on Greg McKegg’s goal with 8:58 left in the game. Mike Cazzola and Adam Pelech assisted on the goal. Cazzola, who has endured two hand injuries, played in his first game in a month and eighth game this season. Brett Cook (knee) also played for the first time in a month.

But Laughton’s short-handed goal with 1:54 left stymied Erie’s comeback hopes. Tyson Teichmann stopped 36-of-40 shots in a losing effort for the Otters. Altshuller made 31 saves.

The Otters head to Peterborough today for a 7:05 p.m. game. They will face former teammate Andrew Yogan for the first time since he was traded in August. He has 15 goals and 31 points in 32 games.

- Victor Fernandes

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), announced Monday that 41 of Canada’s top junior-aged players (born in 1992 or later) have been invited to take part in Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp, Dec. 10-14, 2011 at the WinSport Canada Athletic & Ice Complex in Calgary.

Goaltenders
Tyler Bunz (Medicine Hat Tigers)
Louis Domingue (Quebec Remparts)
Mark Visentin (Niagara IceDogs)
Scott Wedgewood (Plymouth Whalers)

Defensemen
Nathan Beaulieu (Saint John Sea Dogs)
Cody Ceci (Ottawa 67’s)
Mathew Dumba (Red Deer Rebels)
Jerome Gauthier-Leduc (Rimouski Oceanic)
Brandon Gormley (Moncton Wildcats)
Dougie Hamilton (Niagara IceDogs)
Scott Harrington (London Knights)
Brenden Kichton (Spokane Chiefs)
Joseph Morrow (Portland Winterhawks)
Ryan Murphy (Kitchener Rangers)
Ryan Murray (Everett Silvertips)
Jamie Oleksiak (Saginaw Spirit)
Alex Petrovic (Red Deer Rebels)
Mark Pysyk (Edmonton Oil Kings)

Forwards
Michael Bournival (Shawinigan Cataractes)
Brett Bulmer (Kelowna Rockets)
Phillip Danault (Victoriaville Tigres)
Michael Ferland (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Brendan Gallagher (Vancouver Giants)
Freddie Hamilton (Niagara IceDogs)
Quinton Howden (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Jonathan Huberdeau (Saint John Sea Dogs)
Boone Jenner (Oshawa Generals)
Mark McNeill (Prince Albert Raiders)
Tanner Pearson (Barrie Colts)
Zack Phillips (Saint John Sea Dogs)
Max Reinhart (Kootenay Ice)
Ty Rattie (Portland Winterhawks)
Brad Ross (Portland Winterhawks)
Mark Scheifele (Barrie Colts)
Ryan Spooner (Kingston Frontenacs)
Mark Stone (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Ryan Strome (Niagara IceDogs)
Christian Thomas (Oshawa Generals)
Tyler Toffoli (Ottawa 67’s)

OSHAWA, Ontario – Apparently, Erie Otters goaltender Ramis Sadikov needed a night off.

He made his 14^th straight start on Friday night. But his evening ended after three goals on 11 shots in 12 minutes. Oshawa then blitzed rookie backup Chris Festarini for seven goals to hand the Otters a 10-3 loss – their worst defeat in nearly three years – in front of 4,019 at General Motors Centre.

The Otters (9-14-1-0) arrived in Oshawa with four wins in their previous five games. But the Generals (12-5-2-2) built a 3-0 lead in the opening 11:54. Their lead reached 4-0 on Nicklas Jensen’s power-play goal 5:02 into the second period – the first of four goals with the man advantage.

Otters winger Anthony Luciani scored the first of his two goals with 8:05 left in the second. But Oshawa scored the next three goals to take a 7-1 lead into the third. Greg McKegg and Luciani scored five minutes in the third to pull the Otters within 7-3. But Christian Thomas’ third goal of the game and 15^th of the season began the Generals’ three-goal surge to end the game. Thomas, who missed Oshawa’s 4-2 win at Tullio Arena on Oct. 30 because of a suspension, also added three assists to finish with six points.

The Otters allowed their most goals in a game since losing to Niagara 10-5 on March 2, 2008. The seven-goal margin of defeat was the largest since an 8-1 loss to London on Dec. 14, 2007.

Festarini earned the loss after surrendering seven goals on 20 shots. Luciani finished with three points.

Andy Andreoff (four assists) and Boone Jenner (goal, three assists) – two of six Generals with multi-point efforts – contributed four points apiece for the Generals.

SUMMARY

Generals 10, Otters 3

Erie  0  1  2  —  3

Oshawa  3  4  3  —  10

1^st Period — 1. Oshawa, Alain Berger 12 (Hope, Jenner), 2:13; 2. Oshawa, Christian Thomas 13 (Andreoff), 6:53 (sh). 3. Oshawa, Lucas Lessio 7 (Jenner, Thomas), 11:54. Penalties — McDowell (O) interference, 6:04; Sabourin (O) interference, 9:16; McKegg (E) instigator, 9:16; McKegg (E) 5-min. fighting, 9:16; Sabourin (O) 5-min. fighting, 9:16; McKegg (E) 10-min. misconduct, 9:16; Luciani (E) roughing, 14:51; Berger (O) roughing, 14:51; de Haan (O) tripping, 19:34.

2^nd Period — 4. Oshawa, Nicklas Jensen 8 (Thomas, de Haan), 5:02 (pp). 5. Erie, Anthony Luciani 5 (Broll, Varone), 11:55. 6. Oshawa, Jeff Brown 5 (Andreoff), 15:39 (sh). 7. Oshawa, Scott Laughton 9 (Brown), 16:58; 8. Oshawa, Thomas 14 (Berger, Andreoff), 19:11 (pp). Penalties — Marchese (E) hooking, 2:21; Cook (E) holding, 4:09; Lessio (O) holding, 9:53; Szydlowski (E) tripping, 12:33; Jensen (O) interference, 12:54; Laughton (O) hooking, 14:49; Paton (E) instigator (E) 17:36; Paton (E) 5-min. fighting, 17:36; Sabourin (O) 5-min. fighting, 17:36; Paton (E) 10-min. misconduct, 17:36.

3^rd Period — 9. Erie, Greg McKegg 14 (McDonnell, Luciani), 6:12; 10. Erie, Luciani 6 (Holden), 11:21 (pp). 11. Oshawa, Thomas 15 (de Haan, Andreoff), 12:40 (pp). 12. Oshawa, Josh Graves 3 (DeHart, Jenner), 12:52 (pp). 13. Oshawa, Boone Jenner 6 (Thomas, Berger), 17:13. Penalties — Oshawa, too many men (served by Berger), 10:11; Varone (E) checking to the head, 11:59; Cook (E) roughing, 12:27; Quinn (O) hooking, 18:38.

Shots on goal — Erie, 6-11-12—29; Oshawa, 13-9-9—31.

Goaltenders — Erie, Ramis Sadikov (11 shots, 8 saves), Chris Festarini 0-4-0-0 (20 shots, 13 saves); Oshawa, Kevin Bailie 4-2-1-1 (29 shots, 26 saves).

Power plays — Erie (1-7), Oshawa (4-6).

Referees — Mike Cairns, Joe Celestin. Linesmen — Sean Pindar.

Attendance — 4,019.

Three stars

* Christian Thomas, Generals (3 goals, 3 assists) ** Andy Andreoff, Generals (4 assists) *** Boone Jenner, Generals (goal, 3 assists)

What: Erie Otters (9-13-1-0) at Oshawa Generals (11-5-2-2)

When: Friday, 7:35 p.m.

Where: General Motors Centre – Oshawa, Ontario

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

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (13 goals, 17 assists, 30 points), G Ramis Sadikov (9-10-1-0 record, 2.77 goals-against average, .915 save percentage, 1 shutout), RW Shawn Szydlowski (10-11-21), RW Anthony Luciani (4-6-10 in 9 games), D Derek Holden (2-10-12)

Oshawa – RW Christian Thomas (12-11-23), RW Nicklas Jensen (7-10-17), RW Alain Berger (11-5-16), LW Andy Andreoff (8-8-16), D Calvin de Haan (2-14-16, plus-7)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters snapped a six-game losing streak in Peterborough with a 4-1 win Thursday. Now they look to end a three-game skid at Oshawa in which they have been outscored 18-4. Erie last won in Oshawa on Oct. 20, 2006 (7-6 in a shootout). … The Otters lost 4-2 at home to the Generals on Oct. 30. … The Otters are 4-6-1-0 on the road. … D Brady Austin (bruised shoulder) remained out of the lineup Thursday. The Otters already are without C Mike Cazzola (broken wrist) and D Tyler Hostetter (hand). … Sadikov has started 13 straight games. … Luciani, who missed a month with a broken wrist, has points in seven of nine games he has played this season. … McKegg ranks among the OHL’s top 15 in scoring.

Oshawa – The Generals have won three of their last four games. … They lead the league in penalty minutes (466). … They are fourth on the penalty kill (82.9 percent). … The Generals are next to last at home on the power play (13.0). In contrast, they are No. 2 on the road (26.7). … de Haan, a New York Islanders prospect, ranks among the top 10 defensemen in scoring.

Up next: at Barrie (Saturday, 7:30 p.m.), vs. Belleville (Thursday, 7 p.m.)

- Victor Fernandes

The Erie Otters are close on the scoreboard. But they are falling behind in the standings.

The Otters fell to Oshawa 4-2 in front of 2,865 at Tullio Arena Saturday night, their second straight loss and ninth in the past 10 games. Erie (4-11-1-0) also has nine times by two goals or fewer.

“At least we’re in every game,” winger Shawn Szydlowski said. “At least we’re not getting blown out.”

The Generals (8-3-1-2), the highest-scoring team in the Eastern Conference and second highest overall, wasted little time in gaining the lead. Andy Andreoff scored his seventh goal of the season, off an assist from Lucas Lessio, to take a 1-0 lead 1:49 into the opening period. Meanwhile, the Otters’ power play, which ranks among the league leaders, failed on all three chances with the man advantage in the period.

The Otters finally solved Generals backup goaltender Kevin Bailie midway through the second period, as the No. 1 line of Mike Cazzola, Greg McKegg and Szydlowski combined to tie the score at 1. The Generals regained the lead at 2-1 on Andreoff’s second goal of the night 1:05 after Szydlowski’s goal. But rookie Macaulay McDonnell tied the score at 2 with 5:10 left in the period.

In the period’s waning moments, the Otters failed to capitalize on a puck in the crease. On Oshawa’s ensuing rush down ice, Jeff Brown pushed a rebound in the crease past Otters goaltender Ramis Sadikov for Brown’s first goal of the season and a 3-2 Generals’ lead.

That lead stood up in the third period, as Bailie faced only six shots he faced to earn his first win of the season. The Otters failed on three power-play opportunities in the third, including an early 5-on-3 for nearly two minutes, and finished the game 0-for-7.

With Sadikov on the bench for an extra attacker during a 6-on-4 power play late in the game, Generals winger Alain Berger sealed the Otters’ fate with a short-handed, empty-net goal.

Andreoff and Berger (goal, assist) led the Generals’ attack. Sadikov made 27 saves for the Otters.

* News and notes: Otters winger Anthony Luciani will have the cast on his injured right wrist removed on Tuesday. He hopes to learn a return date on that day. … The Generals played without leading scorer Christian Thomas (11 goals, 19 points), who was suspended because of a match penalty for slew footing on Friday against Belleville. … Aaron Beaton, a longtime Otters and Mercyhurst College fan who died Sept. 25 because of complications from a stroke, was honored in a pregame ceremony. Members from local youth, high school and college teams, including Lakers forwards Meghan Agosta and Brandon Coccimiglio, formed a circle at center ice and raised their sticks in the air during a moment of silence.

- Victor Fernandes

SUMMARY

Generals 4, Otters 2

Oshawa  1  2  1  —  4

Erie  0  2  0  —  2

1^st Period — 1. Oshawa, Andy Andreoff 7 (Lessio), 1:49. Penalties — Sabourin (O) hooking, 3:13; Lessio (O) cross checking, 10:30; Szydlowski (E) hooking, 12:40. Penalties — McKegg (E) no goal, 11:02; Valentine (O) hooking, 17:04.

2^nd Period — 2. Erie, Shawn Szydlowski 7 (McKegg, Cazzola), 10:40. 3. Oshawa, Andreoff 8 (McDowell, Jensen), 11:45. 4. Erie, Macaulay McDonnell 3 (Holden, Broll), 14:50. 5. Oshawa, Jeff Brown 1 (Jenner, Berger), 18:53. Penalties — Cook (E) 5-min. fighting, 2:44; Clark (O) 5-min. fighting, 2:44; Valentine (O) slashing, 5:28; McKegg (E) holding the stick, 5:37.

3^rd Period — 8. Oshawa, Alain Berger 7 (Labardo), 18:39 (sh-en). Penalties — Clark (O) tripping, 6:19; Valentine (O) checking from behind, 6:29; Suellentrop (O) hooking, 17:30.

Shots on goal — Oshawa, 8-11-12—31; Erie, 10-11-6—27.

Goaltenders — Oshawa, Kevin Bailie 1-1-0-1 (27 shots, 25 saves); Erie, Ramis Sadikov 4-8-1-0 (30 shots, 27 saves).

Power plays — Oshawa (0-2), Erie (0-7).

Referees — Joel Washkurak, Dave Lewis. Linesmen — Mike Harrington, Sean Pindar.

Attendance — 2,865.

Three stars

* Andy Andreoff, Generals (2 goals) ** Macaulay McDonnell, Otters (goal) *** Adam Pelech, Otters (defense)

What: Oshawa Generals (7-3-1-2) at Erie Otters (4-10-1-0)

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 (9 goals, 14 assists, 23 points), C Mike Cazzola (8-12-20), RW Shawn Szydlowski (6-7-13), D Tyler Hostetter (3-7-10), C Phil Varone (1-2-3 in 6 games)

Oshawa – RW Christian Thomas (11-8-19), D Calvin de Haan (1-9-10, plus-11), LW Andy Andreoff (6-7-13), C Scott Laughton (7-5-12), LW Lucas Lessio (4-6-10)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters have lost eight of their nine to fall to last in the Western Conference. They have the third-worst record in the Ontario Hockey League. … Varone, who was acquired from London earlier this week, was held pointless in Friday’s loss to Windsor after recording two assists in his Otters’ debut on Wednesday against Plymouth. … RW Anthony Luciani (wrist) and rookie F Connor Crisp (concussion) remain on the injured list. … McKegg’s three-game point streak ended Friday. … Cazzola has four goals in his past six games. … Szydlowski has two points in five games since ending a season-high, six-game point streak. … Hostetter has points in 10-of-15 games this season. … The Otters have been outscored 60-49 this season. … The power play has risen to first in the league at 23.5 percent (16-for-68).

Oshawa – The Generals lead the Eastern Conference and rank second overall with 60 goals scored despite ranking 15^th on the power play (11-for-64). … Thomas is tied for third in goals and ranks among the top 15 in scoring. … de Haan was the 12^th overall pick (New York Islanders) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. … The Generals and Otters split their two meetings last season.

Up next: vs. Owen Sound (Nov. 5-6, 7 p.m.)

- Victor Fernandes