Erie Otters forwards Greg McKegg and Sondre Olden have been invited to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ training camp, which begins Friday at MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence in Etobicoke, Ontario. The Leafs’ preseason opener is set for Monday against the Ottawa Senators at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre. Former Otters David Broll and Tim Connolly also are on the Leafs’ camp roster.

Otters overage defenseman Tyler Hostetter, who has signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, opens camp today at 5 p.m. with a preseason rookie game against the Washington Capitals at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The full camp with rookies and veterans begins Saturday at Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, N.J.

Check out that quote and the rest of an article on Erie Otters defenseman and Philadelphia Flyers prospect Tyler Hostetter from the Lancaster (Pa.) Intelligencer Journal.

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 Windsor Spitfires have taken command of their series with the Erie Otters.

The Spitfires exploded for seven goals on 42 shots in a 7-4 win against the Otters in Game 4 of their best-of-seven quarterfinal series, played in front of 3,316 at Tullio Arena on Wednesday night.

The Spitfires, which lead 3-1 in the series, can eliminate the Otters with a win in Game 5 on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. at WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario. Seven Spitfires contributed multiple points in the win.

Tom Kuhnhackl led the way with two goals and two assists. Alexander Khokhlachev (two goals, assist) and Jake Carrick (goal, two assists) had three points apiece. David Shields had two points for the Otters.

The shootout many expected from two of the OHL’s top offenses finally erupted in the first period.

The teams scored five goals on 15 shots, with the Spitfires building a 3-2 lead. Windsor scored on their first two shots to chase Otters goaltender Ramis Sadikov from the game for the second straight outing.

Kuhnhackl, who left Game 3 early on Monday with an apparent leg injury, beat Sadikov for a 1-0 lead 1:27 into the opening period. Khokhlachev scored from in front at the 3:52 mark.

Tyler Hostetter scored less than five minutes later to slice the Otters’ deficit to 2-1, only to have Stephen Johnston score on the power play against rookie backup Chris Festarini with 7:06 left in the period to regain the Spitfires’ two-goal lead. Windsor scored its first three goals on four shots.

Then with 4:15 left in the period, Shields slipped a shot past Spitfires goaltender Jack Campbell to send the Otters into the first intermission trailing 3-2. The Otters scored twice on nine shots.

But Zack Kassian’s first goal of the series 47 seconds into the second period, which handed the Spitfires a 4-2 lead, forced Otters coach Robbie Ftorek to send Sadikov back into the game.

Greg McKegg pulled the Otters within a goal again at 4-3, as he fired a rebound of Shawn Szydlowski’s shot off the post past Campbell 4:56 into the period. But McKegg’s goaltender interference penalty led to Kuhnhackl’s power-play score – his second goal of the game and series – that extended the Spitfires’ lead to 5-3 with 11:27 left in the period. Carrick scored five minutes later for a 6-3 lead.

The Spitfires scored those six goals on 18 shots. The Otters moved within 6-4 at the 5:01 mark of the third period, as Mike Cazzola poked in a rebound late in a 5-on-3 opportunity. But Khokhlachev scored his second goal of the night less than 2 minutes later to extend Windsor’s lead to 7-4. Windsor outshot the Otters 22-7 in the third to finish with a 48-26 advantage.

- 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 – Friday at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.

Game 6 – Sunday at Erie, 4:30 p.m.*

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

Windsor leads series 3-1

* If necessary

SUMMARY

Spitfires 7, Otters 4

Windsor  3  3  1  —  7

Erie  2  1  1  —  4

1^st Period — 1. Windsor, Tom Kuhnhackl 1 (Duininck), 1:27. 2. Windsor, Alexander Khokhlachev 1 (Robertson, Kuhnhackl), 3:52. 3. Erie, Tyler Hostetter 1 (Festarini), 8:27. 4. Windsor, Stephen Johnston 3 (Kassian, Duininck), 12:54 (pp). 5. Erie, David Shields 1 (Luciani, Holden), 15:45. Penalties — Rychel (W) tripping, 4:11; Cook (E) checking from behind, 12:16; Carrick (W) hooking, 14:08; Thompson (E) tripping, 15:31.

2^nd Period — 6. Windsor, Zack Kassian 1 (Ryan, Johnston), :47. 7. Erie, Greg McKegg 2 (Szydlowski, Shields), 4:56. 8. Windsor, Kuhnhackl 2 (Carrick, Khokhlachev), 8:33 (pp). 9. Windsor, Jake Carrick 3 (Kuhnhackl), 13:34. Penalties — McKegg (E) goaltender interference, 8:24; Kassian (W) roughing, 15:51.

3^rd Period — 10. Erie, Mike Cazzola 3 (Szydlowski, Varone), 5:01 (pp). 11. Windsor, Khokhlachev 2 (Carrick, Robertson), 6:50. Penalties — Luciani (E) 4-min. roughing, 2:04; Khokhlachev (W) roughing, 2:04; Robertson (W) roughing, 2:04; Varone (E) slashing, 2:04; Ellis (E) slashing, 3:04; Johnston (W) tripping, 4:21; Carnevale (W) holding, 9:37; Luciani (E) roughing, 13:09; Szydlowski (E) slashing, 14:44; Kassian (W) roughing, 14:44; Crisp (E) slashing, 17:00.

Shots on goal — Windsor, 9-17-22—42; Erie, 6-13-7—26.

Goaltenders — Windsor, Jack Campbell 3-1-0 (26 shots, 22 saves); Erie, Ramis Sadikov 1-2-1 (37shots, 32 saves), Chris Festarini (11 shots, 9 saves).

Power plays — Windsor (2-6), Erie (1-6).

Referees — Craig Spada, Mike Cairns. Linesmen — Darryl Wolfe, Matthew Traub.

Attendance — 3,316.

Three stars

* Tom Kuhnhackl, Spitfires (2 goals, 2 assists) ** Alexander Khokhlachev, Spitfires (2 goals, assist) *** Mike Cazzola, Otters (goal)

David Shields knew the June 1 signing deadline would arrive soon.

Yet the Erie Otters defenseman still didn’t have a contract offer from the NHL’s St. Louis Blues.

“I was worrying about if I was going to get one,” he said. Now he doesn’t have to worry anymore.

Shields, 20, has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Blues, which selected him in the sixth round (No. 168 overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Teams have until June 1 to sign their 2009 picks.

Shields, who joins defenseman Tyler Hostetter (Philadelphia Flyers) as the Otters’ signed players, said he hopes to begin his full-time professional career with the AHL’s Adirondack Phantoms next season.

“I would love to make that step up next year,” he said. “I’m definitely hoping for the best for that.”

Shields learned of contract negotiations last week. He signed the contract on Tuesday.

“Luckily (the contract) came early and relieved a lot of stress,” Shields said. “A lot of stress is off my shoulders now. I’m just glad I don’t have to worry about signing until June now.”

Shields has six goals, 27 points and a plus-29 rating in 61 games this season. He has 15 goals, 67 points and a plus-39 rating in 250 career OHL games. “That was a great moment,” he said of signing.

- Victor Fernandes

What: Owen Sound Attack (37-15-1-2) at Erie Otters (29-24-1-1)

When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Where: Tullio Arena

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

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (34 goals, 34 assists, 68 points), C Brett Thompson (37-29-66), C Phil Varone (25-38-63), RW Anthony Luciani (22-38-60), RW Shawn Szydlowski (33-25-58)

Owen Sound – C Joey Hishon (33-43-76), LW Garrett Wilson (35-39-74), LW Andrew Fritsch (24-28-52), RW Robby Mignardi (25-26-51), D Jesse Blacker (10-37-47)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters have won two straight, four of their last five and nine of their last 13 games. … They play nine of the next 11 games at home. … Varone has nine goals and 29 points in a career-high, 13-game point streak. … Szydlowski has goals in six straight games, three shy of equaling Brad Boyes’ franchise record set from Nov. 4-25, 2000. Szydlowski has 21 points in a career-high, 13-game streak. … Thompson has goals and points in five straight games (nine goals, 14 points). … Luciani has points in seven of the past eight games (five goals, 18 points). … McKegg hasn’t scored a goal in seven straight games, his longest drought since his rookie season in 2008-09. … G Ramis Sadikov (29-17-1-1 record, 2.91 goals-against average, .912 save percentage, 2 shutouts) needs one win to become the franchise’s first goaltender with 30 wins in a season. Sadikov, who already holds the single-season record, ranks fifth on the Otters’ career list with 38 wins. … D Tyler Hostetter (6-13-19) has two goals in three games since returning from a three-month absence with a broken hand. … F Andrew Yogan (shoulder) could be medically cleared Thursday, a source speaking on condition of anonymity said. He’s expected to rejoin the team Thursday night or Friday morning, practice next week and play as early as Feb. 24 at Niagara. … Rookie LW Chris Marchese (shoulder) has resumed full-contact workouts this week. … As part of the club’s Macaroni Madness promotion, fans can purchase $4 tickets to tonight’s game and the March 2 game against Niagara by donating a box of macaroni and cheese. The food benefits the Erie City Mission. … The Buck Night game features $1 Smith’s hot dogs, Coca-Cola products, beer and popcorn.

Owen Sound – The Attack have won nine of their last 10 games to build a seven-point lead over Kitchener for the Midwest Division lead and a five-point edge over Saginaw in the Western Conference standings. … The teams meet for the final time in the regular season. The Attack have won four straight against the Otters after losing 4-0 in Erie Nov. 5. … Hishon and Wilson rank among the OHL’s top 10 goal scorers and point leaders. … They lead the highest-scoring team (233 goals). … Fritsch missed Saturday’s win against Plymouth because he was sick, according to the team’s website. Ds Matt Stanisz (8-27-35), plus-17) and Geoffrey Schemitsch (1-19-20, +17) were out with injuries, the website reported.

Up next: vs. Niagara (Friday, 7 p.m.), vs. Guelph (Saturday, 7 p.m.)

– Victor Fernandes

BELLEVILLE, Ontario – The Erie Otters didn’t allow this game to slip away.

A night after squandering a late lead in a loss to Ottawa, the Otters broke open a one-goal game with four unanswered goals in a 6-1 win against Belleville in front of 2,421 at Yardmen Arena on Saturday night.

Brett Thompson started the decisive surge 7 minutes, 42 seconds into the second period with his eighth goal in the past four games and 36^th of the season. The goal handed the Otters (28-24-1-1) a 3-1 lead.

Shawn Szydlowski followed with his fifth goal in the past five games and 31^st of the season for a 4-1 lead with 5:11 left in the period. The Otters capped their third win in four games with two goals in the third.

Anthony Luciani reached the 20-goal for the second straight season 1:53 into the period. He finished the game with a goal and two assists. Rookie Luke Cairns added the final goal with 46 seconds left.

Phil Varone had two assists for the Otters. Tyler Hostetter, who rejoined the lineup on Friday in Ottawa after missing three months with a broken hand, scored a goal. Brett Appio also scored for the Otters.

Ramis Sadikov stopped 25-of-26 shots for the Otters. Braeden Corbeth scored for the Bulls (15-32-0-4).

The Otters conclude their three-game East Division road trip today at 2 p.m. in Kingston.

- Victor Fernandes

SUMMARY

Otters 6, Bulls 1

Erie  2  2  2  —  6

Belleville  1  0  0  —  1

1^st Period — 1. Erie, Tyler Hostetter 5 (Luciani, Varone), 8:04. 2. Erie, Brett Appio 8 (Paton, Cairns), 9:04. 3. Belleville, Braeden Corbeth 3 (Underwood), 14:48. Penalties — Szydlowski (E) 5-min. fighting, 8:07; Judson (B) 5-min. fighting, 8:07; Paton (E) hooking, 9:12; Morris (B) slashing, 16:17; Cazzola (E) high sticking, 17:48; Cook (E) roughing, 19:42; Brassard (B) roughing, 19:42.

2^nd Period — 4. Mercyhurst, Brett Thompson 36 (Luciani, Cook), 7:42 (pp). 5. Erie, Shawn Szydlowski 31 (Cazzola, McKegg), 14:49. Penalties — Luciani (E) slashing, 4:58; Gaunce (B) hooking, 5:37; Bathgate (B) hooking, 5:50; Appio (E) 5-min. fighting, 10:07; Payerl (B) 5-min. fighting, 10:07; Cook (E) 5-min. fighting, 15:22; Sandlak (B) 5-min. fighting, 15:22; Underwood (B) tripping, 18:43.

3^rd Period — 6. Erie, Anthony Luciani 20 (Shields, Varone), 1:53. 7. Erie, Luke Cairns 5 (McDonnell), 19:14. Penalties — Erie, too many men (served by McDonnell), 2:56; Judson (B) checking from behind, 10:07; Szydlowski (E) holding, 14:21; McKegg (E) slashing, 17:58; Basso (B) slashing, 18:32.

Shots on goal — Erie, 13-14-7—34; Belleville, 7-8-11—26.

Goaltenders — Erie, Ramis Sadikov 28-17-1-1 (26 shots, 25 saves); Belleville, Malcolm Subban 7-11-0-2 (34 shots, 28 saves).

Power plays — Erie (1-6), Belleville (0-6).

Referees — Ryan Carroll, Mike Cairns. Linesmen — Brian Hoard, Sean Pindar.

Attendance — 2,421.

Three stars

* Anthony Luciani, Otters (goal, 2 assists) ** Phil Varone, Otters (2 assists) *** Brett Thompson, Otters (goal)

OTTAWA, Ontario – The Erie Otters were less than 5 minutes away from stealing a key win.

But Ottawa’s Tyler Toffoli and Dalton Smith scored 48 seconds apart, including the go-ahead goal with 3:32 left, to hand the Otters a 4-3 loss in front of 5,760 at Rona Centre Friday night.

The Otters (27-24-1-1) took a 3-2 lead on Mike Cazzola’s goal 5:58 into the third period. But Brett Appio’s hooking penalty with 6:05 left led to Toffoli’s power-play goal 1:45 later – his OHL-best 45^th goal and 88^th point of the season – tied the score at 3. Then Smith snapped the tie with 3:32 left.

The Otters squandered three one-goal leads in this game, including two in the third. Shawn Szydlowski scored his 30^th goal of the season – the first time he has reached that mark in his four-year career – to hand the Otters a 2-1 at the 2:32 mark of the third. But Ottawa’s Shane Prince scored 3:10 later.

The Otters also carried a 1-0 lead built on Brett Thompson’s goal 3:12 into the game late into the second period. But Jon Carnevale opened the scoring for the 67’s (34-15-1-1) with 3:46 left in the period.

Cazzola (goal, assist), Szydlowski (goal, assist) and Phil Varone (two assists) led the Otters with two points apiece. Ramis Sadikov allowed four goals on 32 shots. Tyler Hostetter had no points and a minus-1 rating in his first game since breaking his hand Nov. 13 against London. Carnevale had a goal and assist and Petr Mrazek made 32 saves for the 67’s, which have won five straight. The Otters head to Belleville today for a 7:05 p.m. game.

SUMMARY

67’s 4, Otters 3

Erie  1  0  2  —  3

Ottawa  0  1  3  —  4

1^st Period — 1. Erie, Brett Thompson 35 (Varone), 3:12. Penalties — None.

2^nd Period — 2. Ottawa, Jon Carnevale 5 (Sedlak), 16:14. Penalties — None.

3^rd Period — 3. Erie, Shawn Szydlowski 30 (Varone, Cazzola), 2:32 (pp). 4. Ottawa, Shane Prince 23 (Graovac), 5:42. 5. Erie, Mike Cazzola 13 (Cook, Szydlowski), 5:58. 6. Ottawa, Tyler Toffoli 45 (Martindale, Ceci), 15:40 (pp). 7. Ottawa, Dalton Smith 9 (Carnevale), 16:28. Penalties — Lindsay (O) high sticking, 1:03; Zanetti (O) delay of game, 2:17; Appio (E) hooking, 13:55.

Shots on goal — Erie, 14-9-15—38; Ottawa, 4-14-14—32.

Goaltenders — Erie, Ramis Sadikov 27-16-1-1 (32 shots, 28 saves); Ottawa, Petr Mrazek 26-12-1-1 (38 shots, 35 saves).

Power plays — Erie (1-2), Ottawa (1-1).

Referees — Chris Hodgins, Seth Ferguson. Linesmen — Scott Wilson, Eric Dagenais.

Attendance — 5,760.

Three stars

* Jon Carnevale, 67’s (goal, assist) ** Ryan Martindale, 67’s (assist) *** Phil Varone, Otters (2 assists)

Erie Otters defenseman Tyler Hostetter is expected to rejoin the lineup Friday night in Ottawa against the 67′s. Listen to his thoughts on playing for the first time since Nov. 13, when he broke his right hand against London.

What: Erie Otters (27-23-1-1) at Ottawa 67’s (33-15-1-1)

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Rona Centre – Ottawa, Ontario

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

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (34 goals, 32 assists, 66 points), C Brett Thompson (34-26-60), C Phil Varone (24-33-57), RW Anthony Luciani (19-35-54), RW Shawn Szydlowski (29-24-53)

Ottawa – RW Tyler Toffoli (44-43-87), LW Shane Prince (22-56-78), C Ryan Martindale (30-38-68), RW Thomas Nesbitt (24-26-50), C Cody Lindsay (26-22-48)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters have won two straight and seven of their last 10 games. … D Tyler Hostetter (4-13-17, minus-12 rating in 22 games) is expected to play for the first time since breaking his hand in a fight with then-London LW Tyler Brown Nov. 13. … Thompson, the current OHL player of the week, has six goals and eight points in the past two games. He has nine goals and 14 points in 11 games since being acquired from Sault Ste. Marie Jan. 10. … Thompson and McKegg rank among the league’s top seven goal scorers. … Varone has eight goals and 23 points in a 10-game point streak, one shy of equaling his career high set in 2007-08 with London. He had a career-high five points in an 8-2 win against Windsor on Saturday to move within six points of breaking his single-season career high (61 in 2007-08). … Szydlowski has goals in three straight games and 16 points in a 10-game streak, which ties a career high set last season. … Luciani has points in five straight games (two goals, 12 points). … McKegg and Cazzola have combined for no goals and three points in the past four games. … The Otters are tied for ninth in the league on the power play (20.7 percent) and fifth on the penalty kill (82.3). … They are 12-14-1-0 on the road, which tops their win total from five of the past eight seasons.

Ottawa – The 67’s, which have won four straight, lead the East Division by four points over Oshawa. They trail Central Division-leading Mississauga St. Michael’s by 12 points in the race for the Eastern Conference’s regular-season title. … Toffoli leads the league in goals and points and is tied for seventh in assists. … Prince ranks third in assists. … The 67’s are second with 214 goals scored and third with 150 goals against. … G Petr Mrazek ranks among the top four in wins (26), goals-against average (2.80), save percentage (.921) and shutouts (4). … The 67’s are 19-5-1-1 at home.

Up next: at Belleville (Saturday, 7:05 p.m.), at Kingston (Sunday, 2 p.m.)

– Victor Fernandes