Memorial Cup Notebook: Headrick, Otters off to tournament final

WINDSOR, Ont. – A four-goal third period was the difference as the Ontario Hockey League's Erie Otters earned a spot in the championship game at the 2017 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

The OHL champions beat the Saint John Sea Dogs, champions of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, 6-3 Friday night at the WFCU Centre to move into Sunday's final.

“We started out strong and kept it going throughout the game,” said Garden River’s Owen Headrick, a defenceman with the Otters. “Our team played really well together and stuck to the game plan.”

Dylan Strome and Gera Poddubnyi scored 1:07 apart early in the third period to put the Otters ahead to stay.

“Our go-to guys were going again tonight and we needed them when we needed a goal there at the start of the third period,” Headrick said of the success early in the third period.

“That was huge for us to get two quick ones off the bat,” Otters forward Anthony Cirelli, who set up a pair of goals. “We wanted to come out and we wanted to play fast and try to get a goal early. We accomplished that getting the first one but getting that second one was really helpful for us and laid out the period for us.”

Taylor Raddysh scored a pair of goals to pace the Otters offensively. Darren Raddysh and Warren Foegele chipped in with a goal and assist each.

Alex DeBrincat set up three goals for Erie.

Erie goaltender Troy Timpano stopped 20 shots.

Erie Coach Kris Knoblauch said Timpano was a difference in the game.

“Probably our weakest period tonight was our third as for our defensive play and giving up chances,” Knoblauch said. “Troy was outstanding and made some key saves. He made one where he made a save and we went out and scored immediately after. That was the difference tonight.”

Julien Gauthier had a goal and two assists for the Sea Dogs. Thomas Chabot and Joe Veleno also scored for Saint John.

Callum Booth made 31 saves for Saint John.

“We played our tails off,” said Saint John Coach Danny Flynn.

Flynn said the Otters seven power plays made life difficult on the Sea Dogs.

“Seven penalty kills against a team like that drains your team,” Flynn said. “

Knoblauch said the Otters inability to capitalize on the power play could have been an issue as the team went 1-for-6 on the power play through 40 minutes and the game sat tied through two periods.

“We let some power play opportunities slip away where we could have got a two-goal lead,” Knoblauch said. “We didn’t execute there.”

Erie advances to Sunday’s tournament championship against the Windsor Spitfires. The two teams met on the final day of the round robin with Windsor winning 4-2 to finish 3-0 and advance directly into the final.

“We just need to paly a full 60 minutes,” Headrick said of the plan going into the rematch with the Otters. “We’ve got to stick to our game plan. They’re a good team and we need to respect that. As long as we come out hard and stick to our game plan, we should be good.”

Jeremiah Addison scored three times for Windsor in Tuesday’s win, which forced the Otters into Friday’s semifinal.