Otters lose in overtime to the Whalers, 4-3

Erie, Pa. - Rickard Rakell scored late in regulation and in overtime to give the Plymouth Whalers a 4-3 win against the Erie Otters Wednesday night.

J.P. Labardo opened up the scoring for the Otters with his ninth goal of the season after Connor McDavid made a great pass through traffic and found Labardo at the right circle, where the overage winger banged the puck home at 9:52 of the first. Labardo set a career-high with his 23rd point of the season.

McDavid made it 2-0 for Erie as he scored a power play goal. McDavid made some space in the high slot from snapped a shot through the blocker of Alex Nedeljkovic for his 15th goal of the season at 16:57.

The Whalers tied the game at two in the second period after Zach Bratina and Garrett Meurs each scored for the visitors.

Labardo put the Otters back in front with 7:40 left in regulation after he escaped the penalty box to start an odd-man rush, finishing off a great give-and-go with Luke Cairns for his second goal of the game.

Unfortunately for the Otters, they were unable to hold on for the second point as Rakell scored with 1:25 left in regulation to tie the game and the game-winner with 1:25 left in overtime to win it for the Whalers.

Locastro-Bonini Insurance Three Stars of the Game
No. 1 Star - Rickard Rakell, Plymouth - two goals, one assist
No. 2 Star - J.P. Labardo, Erie - two goals
No. 3 Star - Connor McDavid, Erie - one goal, one assist

The Otters head up north to take on the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Friday night at 7:07 p.m. Listen to all the action on Fox Sports Radio AM 1330 The Fan or online at OttersHockey.com courtesy of the James H. Cross Company.