Whalers Win Seventh Straight, 10-6, in Erie

ERIE, PA -  The Plymouth Whalers exploded for six goals in the second period to overcome at 3-2 first period deficit and the Whalers went on to defeat the Erie Otters, 10-6, in an Ontario Hockey League game played before 2,256 at Tullio Arena on Wednesday.

The Whalers win their seventh straight game and are now tied with London at the top of the Western Conference race with 91 points. Plymouth has played 64 games and is 44-17-2-1; London has played 62 games and is 45-16-0-1.

Erie now is 10-47-3-3, with five games left in their season.

First star Austin Levi led the Plymouth attack with two goals (4-5) and an assist and was +7 on the evening.  Third star Mitchell Heard scored twice in the first period (27-28), also had an assist and was +3.  Other Plymouth goal scorers included Stefan Noesen (34), Alex Aleardi (33), Garrett Meurs (20), Tom Wilson (8), Cody Payne (5) and J.T. Miller (24).  Scott Wedgewood relieved starter Matt Mahalak in the first period after Erie took a 3-1 lead and went the rest of the way in raising his won-loss record to 25-9-2-1.

Stephen Harper led the Erie offensive attack with a hat trick (22-23-24); Luke Cairns (13), Kris Grant (3) and Sondre Olden (11) scored singles for the Otters.

Trailing 3-1 late in the first period, the Whalers started their come back with a pair of goals 73 seconds apart over two periods.  Heard scored his second goal of the game at 19:07 of the first period to cut the Erie lead to 3-2; Noesen tied the game at 3-3 at 0:20 of the second period. 

The Whalers took their first lead of the game at 4-3 on a delayed Erie penalty when Levi snapped a shot past Erie goaltender Adam Wood from the right circle at 3:35.  With Plymouth's Jamie Devane off for high sticking at 4:30 of the period, Aleardi scored a shorthanded goal in typical fashion, gathering speed in neutral territory, heading to the Erie net and depositing a back hand past Wood at 5:27 to give the Whalers a 5-3. lead.  Meurs and Wilson scored similar goals by crashing the net to find loose pucks at 6:59 and 10:25 respectively, to extend the Whalers lead to 7-3.  After Harper scored at 17:28 on an Erie power play to cut the Plymouth lead to 7-4, Payne took Devane's pass from center and scored on a partial breakaway to extend to Plymouth lead to 8-4 at 18:56.

The teams traded two goals aside in the third period - Harper for Erie (5:03), Levi for the Whalers at 10:51, Miller for Plymouth at 11:59 and Olden for Erie at 16:40.

Plymouth outshot Erie, 39-27.

The last time Plymouth scored 10 goals?  February 2, 2007 at Compuware Erie in a 10-1 victory over Erie.

The Whalers remain on the road Friday, playing in Kitchener (7:15 p.m., 88.1 FM WSDP).  Plymouth returns home Sunday afternoon, hosting Owen Sound at 2 p.m. at .