Behind a great game by Jordan Ryan, who had four goals, the Essex 73s defeated the Wallaceburg Lakers, 7-0.

Ryan's first goal came 19:30 into the first period. He then added goals at 11:15 into the second, at 19:57 into the second, and at 8:58 into the third.

Wallaceburg's power play was ineffective against Essex's penalty kill, which allowed zero goals while shorthanded.

Referees had their hands full with a major incident at 3:58 into the third period. Four fighting penalties were dished out along with three game misconducts.

The 73s racked up the penalties in the contest, and ended with eight minors and one major for 31 minutes in penalty time. Essex surpassed its season average of 19.0 penalty minutes per game. The 73s forced the Lakers' goaltenders to work without much rest, launching 47 shots and forcing 40 saves. Joel Sowinski made 29 stops and Scotty Gray made 11. Essex excelled on the penalty kill, not giving up a single goal in six chances.

Essex also got points from Phil Janikowski, who also tallied one goal and one assist. Others who scored for Essex included Matt Zelko and Tyler Scott, who each put in one. More assists for Essex came via Matthew Rosati, Josh Pope-Ferguson APM, Matthew Hebert, Drew Hull, and Michael Vieira, who each chipped in one and William Stadder and Scott Bromley, who contributed two each.

Wallaceburg forced its penalty killing units to work especially hard during the game, picking up five minors and two majors for 30 minutes in penalty time. The Lakers had been averaging 20.0 minutes in penalties per game. Wallaceburg could not produce up to its normal offensive output. The Lakers average 2.2 goals per game. The 73s' defense shut down Wallaceburg's forwards for much of the game, and the Lakers got off only 14 shots during the contest.

Essex's Colin Lauzon stopped 14 shots out of the 14 that he faced. The 73s registered one goal on five power play opportunities. For Essex, Dan Mainella was ejected from the game. Wallaceburg ran into serious disciplinary problems during the contest, and Jackson Gray was ejected from the game.