Erie Otters' fans weren't the only people pleasantly blindsided by the team's 17 goals over their two Ontario Hockey League playoff games at Saginaw.
So was coach Kris Mallette, who enjoyed each from rinkside at the Dow Event Center.
"I don't think we ever envisioned eight and nine goals (per game) in their net," he said, "but we did some things well enough to allow us to have that success."
The Otters were the league's only Western Conference team that won as visitors over the first two games of those four series.
Now, they could sweep the Spirit if they hold serve for the third and fourth games at Erie Insurance Arena. They're set for Tuesday and Thursday at 7 p.m.
Should the Otters be the victors for each, they'd also win a playoff series for the first time since they were the 2017 Robertson Cup titlists.
"Our guys are having fun," Mallette said. "They're earning what they get."
'A consummate professional'
No aspect of the Otters' goal surge at Saginaw was more vital their special teams performance.
Not only up a man, either. Erie recorded four power play goals and three in shorthanded situations.
Sam Alfano and Pano Fimis each scored with the Otters a man down during their opening 8-5 road win. Alfano repeated that feat during last Saturday's 9-5 victory.
That game saw Fimis demonstrate why he was the team's leading scorer (86) during the regular season. The center matched his hat trick with assists on three other Erie goals.
"Man, Pano is just a consummate professional," said Mallette, who replaced Stan Butler as Erie's coach on Feb. 11. "Just the way he comes to the rink every day, and with what he does away from the ice."
Try to end it here
Erie's 2023-24 season concluded when Kitchener won the teams' conference quarterfinal. Those Otters at least took solace they ended a franchise playoff drought that dated to 2018.
Dylan Edwards, a returning right winger, won't take such comfort this time.
Nor does he want another bus trips back to Saginaw.
"Coming back (to EIA) at 2-0 doesn't mean anything if we lose these two games," Edwards said.
Stars aren't visible
The Otters continue to succeed despite the sustained absences of defenseman Matthew Schaefer and center Carey Terrance.
Schaefer, the projected No. 1 overall pick for this year's NHL draft, continues to heal from a broken collarbone he suffered during Team Canada's appearance in last December's IIHF World Junior Championship.
Terrance, a former Anaheim Ducks draft pick, hasn't competed since he was removed via stretcher during Erie's Feb. 14 game at Owen Sound.
The Otters remain on standby for when each will be medically cleared, according to Mallette.
The Spirit lost their home games despite the presence of their premiere players, Michael Misa and Zayne Parekh. Each recorded more than 100 points during the OHL's regular season, with Misa's 134 the most for any Canadian Hockey League player.
Erie held Misa off the score sheet during its initial win at Saginaw. The center scored twice during last Saturday's game, but each were with the Spirit in chase mode.
Misa's plus-minus series rating is minus-7. Parekh, a Calgary Flames draft pick, is at minus-3.
Series schedule
March 27: Erie 8, Saginaw 5
March 29: Erie 9, Saginaw 5 (Erie leads 2-0)
Tuesday: Saginaw at Erie, 7 p.m.
Thursday: Saginaw at Erie, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Erie at Saginaw, 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)
April 7: Saginaw at Erie, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
April 8: Erie at Saginaw, 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
