Whalers Earn a Point With 3-2 OT Loss in Pink Out Game

The Plymouth Whalers worked hard for a point in a 3-2 overtime loss to Sault Ste. Marie on Saturday night before 2,510 at Compuware Arena in the Whalers’ annual Pink Out game for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Not only did they battle the Soo for 61:50, they also battled referees Ryan Hutchison and Mike Cairns.  In addition, the Whalers hit a couple of goal posts and had two goals disallowed because of video review.

All of that made for a frustrating night during Plymouth's annual Pink Out for Breast Cancer Awareness in which the Whalers wore specially designed pink jerseys and had their hair died pink for a good cause.

In the end, Andrew Fritsch’s second goal of the game at 1:50 of overtime proved to be the game-winner for the Greyhounds. Fritsch snapped home a rebound after Plymouth goaltender Matt Mahalak made the original save for his fourth goal of the season.

Sault Ste. Marie is now 6-3-0-0. Plymouth is 2-3-2-1.

Plymouth held a 2-1 lead after forty minutes on goals by Alex Aleardi (3rd of the year at 5:04 of the first period, taking advantage of a give-away in the Soo zone) in the first period and Garrett Meurs (3rd of the year at 4:03 of the second period accepting Zach Bratina's pass and scoring from the hashmarks).  Fritsch’s first goal came in the first period at 18:05 of the first period, tapping home a loose puck at the left side of the Plymouth net to tie the game at 1-1.

Sault Ste. Marie’s Nick Cousins tied the game at 2-2 with his sixth goal of the year at 3:21 of the third period.  Cousins cut in on the right wing, circled behind the Plymouth net and scored on a wraparound on the left side of the goal.

With the game tied at 2-2 later in the third period, the Plymouth penalty killers were severly tested but came out unscored upon. At 13:07 of the third period, Plymouth's Connor Carrick was given a questionable penalty for interference at 13:07, Ryan Hartman whistled for kneeing at 19:19 and Colin MacDonald for slashing at 19:36.

That set the stage for Fritsch’s game-winner, which came after the Whalers killed off a five-on-three Soo power play into the overtime and the teams were back at full strength.

In all, Plymouth penalty killers went 7-for-7 and continue to lead the OHL with a 90.2 success ratio (46-for-51) through eight games.

The shots were even at 33 aside.

Plymouth now hits the road for four consecutive games, playing in Peterborough on Thursday, Kingston on Friday, Oshawa on Oct. 21 and London on Oct. 26.

The Whalers return home on Oct. 27 to host the Kitchener Rangers at 7:05 p.m. at Compuware Arena.

Post Game Video: Alex Aleardi.