KINGSTON, Ontario – The Erie Otters’ power play nearly stole a win Friday night. But the defense gave it away.
The Otters opened a two-goal lead in the third behind three straight goals with the man advantage. But Kingston scored twice in the final period, and again 33 seconds into overtime, to hand the Otters a 6-5 loss in front of 2,616 at K-Rock Centre.
Darcy Greenaway scored on the only shot of the five-minute extra period to keep the Otters (1-2-1-0) from earning a second consecutive win on their three-game East Division road trip. Greenaway poked in a rebound when goaltender Devin Williams couldn’t cover the puck after it caromed off the end boards. The Frontenacs (2-0-0-0) forced overtime by erasing a 5-3 deficit on two goals from Billy Jenkins – his second and third of the game – less than three minutes apart midway through the period.
The Otters also rallied from a two-goal deficit earlier in the game. They scored on three straight power plays – Connor Crisp at the 6:49 mark, J.P. Labardo at 16:31 and Luke Cairns with 1:31 left – to take a 4-3 lead. Then Connor Brown scored his second goal of the game 3:26 into the third to hand the Otters a 5-3 lead. But the defense, which allowed at least 40 shots for the second straight night, couldn’t hold onto the lead. Williams allowed all six goals on 46 shots in his season debut.
Adam Pelech (three assists) and Labardo (goal, two assists) led the Otters with three points apiece. Brown and Stephen Harper (two assists) also had multi-point outings. Connor McDavid had an assist – his fifth point in his first four OHL games. The Otters complete the weekend trip against Ottawa today at 2 p.m. at Scotiabank Place, home of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators.
Ryan Kujawinski and Warren Steele had three assists apiece for the Frontenacs. Colin Furlong earned the win in his OHL debut, as he stopped all five shots he faced in relief of starter Mike Morrison.

This week, I’ll break down all 20 OHL clubs division by division and unveil my predictions for the 2012-13 season. Today, let’s look at the Eastern Conference’s East Division (listed in alphabetical order):

Belleville Bulls
Coach/GM: George Burnett
2011-12 finish: 35-32-1-0, 2nd division, 7th conference
Playoff finish: Lost to Ottawa 4-2 in conference quarterfinals
Key players: G Malcolm Subban (25-14-0-0 record, 2.50 goals-against average, .923 save percentage, 3 shutouts; signed with Boston), C Brendan Gaunce (28 goals, 40 assists, 68 points; signed with Vancouver), RW Austen Brassard (27-24-51; Winnipeg prospect); D Stephen Silas (6-26-32), D Brady Austin (6-20-26; former Erie Otter)
Key losses: C Adam Payerl (22-25-47), RW Luke Judson (18-21-39)
Outlook: Burnett has the rebuilding Bulls headed in the right direction, as they have improved by 15 wins in the past three seasons. And with Subban in net, Silas on defense and Gaunce up front, the Bulls could make a big move this season.

Kingston Frontenacs
Coach/GM: Todd Gill/Doug Gilmour
2011-12 finish: 19-41-3-5, 5th division, 10th conference
Playoff finish: Did not qualify
Key players: C Darcy Greenaway (27-25-52), LW Cody Alcock (24-23-47), C Ryan Kujawinski (16-20-36), D Roland McKeown (No. 2 pick in 2012 OHL Priority Selection), G Mike Morrison (10-19-2-3, 3.87, .890, 1 SO)
Key losses: G Igor Bobkov (17-32-2-4, 3.64, .902, 1 SO; signed with Anaheim)
Outlook: The Frontenacs had the league’s second-worst record a season ago. Morrison, an overager signed earlier this summer, will need to lead a young team headlined by the offensive trio of Greenaway, Alcock and Kujawinski, through a rebuild.

Oshawa Generals
Coach/GM: D.J. Smith/Jeff Twohey
2011-12 finish: 31-30-4-3, 3rd division, 8th conference
Playoff finish: Lost to Niagara 4-2 in conference quarterfinals
Key players: LW Lucas Lessio (34-28-62; signed with Phoenix), C Scott Laughton (21-32-53; signed with Philadelphia), C Boone Jenner (22-27-49; signed with Columbus), D Matt Petgrave (10-35-45, plus-11), G Daniel Altshuller (11-16-2-1, 3.55, ,900)
Key losses: RW Christian Thomas (34-33-67; signed with N.Y. Rangers), RW Nicklas Jensen (25-33-58), LW Andy Andreoff (22-36-58), D Julian Melchiori (2-34-36, +10)
Outlook: The Generals had talent galore last season, but lost in the first round after barely making the playoffs. They still have plenty of talent this season. Smith and Twohey, the former GM in Peterborough, are in charge of turning that talent into wins.

Ottawa 67’s
Coach/GM: Chris Byrne
2011-12 finish: 40-20-5-3, 1st division, 2nd conference
Playoff finish: Lost to Barrie 4-3 in conference semifinals
Key players: D Cody Ceci (17-43-60, +34; signed with Ottawa), C Sean Monahan (33-45-78), G Jake Cardwell (8-28-36), LW Steven Janes (16-20-36), G Keegan Wilson (12-9-3-3, 2.82, .892, 1 SO with Kingston)
Key losses: RW Tyler Toffoli (52-48-100; signed with Los Angeles), LW Shane Prince (43-47-90; signed with Ottawa), G Petr Mrazek (30-13-4-2, 2.84, .917, 3 shutouts; signed with Detroit), C Mike Cazzola (11-34-45; former Otter); D Marc Zanetti (7-21-28, +27)
Outlook: Toffoli’s 109 goals and 208 points the past two years will be difficult to replace, especially since the 67′s also lost 40-goal scorer Prince. But the key to success will be Wilson in net, where he replaces the highly skilled and consistent Mrazek.