The Essex 73s jumped out to a five-point advantage by the end of the first period and beat the Wallaceburg Lakers, 12-2.

Jordan Ryan had one goal and four assists to lead Essex. Ryan scored 24 seconds into the first period to make the score 1-0 Essex. Colin Moore provided the assist.

The 73s forced Wallaceburg's netminders to work between the pipes, taking 64 shots and forcing 52 saves. Devine Cove made eight stops and Joel Sowinski made 44. Essex outdid its season average for goals scored. This season, the 73s average 5.3 goals per contest.

Essex additionally got points from Jordan Brohman, who also racked up four goals and two assists, Moore, who also registered one goal and two assists, Colin DeLaet, who also had one goal and one assist, and Daniel McIntyre, who also tallied one goal and one assist. Essex also had goals scored by Antonio Chiampa, who had one and Matthew Hebert, who had three. More assists for Essex came via Dylan Solecki, who had three, Arren Romeril, Ryan Muzzin, and Chad Hedrick, who contributed one a piece, and Corey Beaulieu and Tyler Raymont, who each chipped in two.

The Lakers forced their penalty killing units to work especially hard during the game, picking up seven minors and one major for 69 minutes in penalty time. Wallaceburg had been averaging 29.0 minutes in penalties per game.

Romeril recorded 18 saves for Essex. The 73s incurred six minutes in penalty time with three minors. The Lakers registered zero goals on two power play opportunities. For Wallaceburg, Chris Taylor and Trevor Williams were ejected from the contest.