OHL Notebook: Otters take series lead

The Ontario Hockey League final could be set as early as Sunday.

With the Mississauga Steelheads already in after a sweep of the Peterborough Petes in the Eastern Conference Final, the Erie Otters sit one victory away after beating the Owen Sound Attack 4-2 on Friday night at Erie Insurance Arena.

The Otters scored three unanswered goals en route to the victory to take a 3-2 series lead in the Western Conference Final over the Attack.

Gera Poddubnyi scored a pair of goals to pace the Otters offensively.

Garden River’s Owen Headrick assisted on a pair of Erie goals. Jordan Sambrook and Taylor Raddysh also scored for the Otters.

Erie goaltender Troy Timpano made 23 saves.

“It’s two games in a row that we’ve got better as the game has gone on,” Erie Coach Kris Knoblauch said in the post-game media conference. “The first period was back-and-forth and a lot of chances. We’ve been better defensively as the games have gone on. Because of that, it’s resulted in more chances. The biggest thing tonight was we had solid performances from everybody.”

Owen Sound goaltender Michael McNiven made 35 saves. Aidan Dudas had both goals for Attack.

“Their best players were their best players and we gave up way too many scoring chances at the beginning at the game,” said Owen Sound Coach Ryan McGill. “We showed a little bit more composure coming back at the end of the first period.

McGill would also say he doesn’t feel the Attack need to make any “structural” changes heading into game six.

The series now shifts to Owen Sound for game six on Sunday afternoon at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre. Game seven, if needed, is set for May 1 in Erie at Erie Insurance Arena.