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May 13, 2005

OHL FINALS GAME 4 – London at Ottawa (5.12) – London Wins (4-1) And Takes Huge Series Lead (3-1)

The 67s lose 4-1 to the Knights. See OHL game summary here and playoff tracker here. See 67s’ playoff page here and pics of Game 4 here.

IN THE NEWS
From the Ottawa Sun Barre Campbell writes, 67's on ropes after bad Knight. Snippet:

"We've got to go back there and work like we did when we were in London," said a dejected 67's winger Mark Mancari.

"Since we came back here, I think we became too comfortable with playing at home. (We made) some mental errors, giving away the puck, not finishing our checks, not battling like we have all playoffs.

"It's starting to show, and we've just got to go back to the way we were playing."

[. . .]

"We were outplayed, outclassed and outworked," said 67's coach Brian Kilrea. "It's not a good ingredient to win a game."

Campbell also writes, Couture welcomed by 67's.

From the Ottawa Sun Don Brennan writes, Knights solve hot Battochio.

From SLAM! Sports, Knights up 3-1.

From the London Free Press Morris Dalla Costa writes, Girardi helps Knights give dominant effort. Girardi was one of the players that I noticed during the reg season. Snippet:

"It has been a tough playoff," Girardi said. "We know the teams have been told to hit our defence and you feel the bumps and bruises. But once the adrenalin gets going, you hardly feel it.

"I don't really mind not being recognized. I'm not a goal scorer. I just get the puck out and keep it nice and simple."

[. . .]

"We want to win (tomorrow's) game real bad for our fans," Girardi said. "They'll be inside and outside the building in droves. We want to win that OHL championship for them."

From the London Free Press Jim Cressman writes, Knights one win from OHL title. Snippet:

I've never really won anything, nothing as big as this," forward Rob Schremp said after his two-goal performance -- one on a blistering slapshot from just inside the Ottawa blue-line, the other on a bank shot off 67's goalie Danny Battochio's leg from behind the net.

"The city hasn't seen this in 40 years. We had the better team against Guelph last year (in the Western Conference final) but we let it slip away.

"Ottawa is the same situation. We can't let them know there are opportunities. We have to win (tomorrow night). It's not a guarantee but it's an opportunity. That's the way I look at it."

Cressman also writes, Coleman answers the call and Couture leaning toward joining 67's.

PRE-GAME NOTES
The game was broadcast on radio (TEAM 1200/Dave Schreiber and AJ Jakubec) and television (Rogers Television 22/Scott MacArthur, Ed Hand, and Lee Versage). Pre-game notes:

*McGinn will not play.

*‘Welcome to Ottawa, Logan’ signs were on the entrances to the Civic Centre. He was interviewed during intermission on both radio and television broadcasts. Fans asked him to autograph their welcome signs. He said that he’s impressed with Jeff Hunt, ‘Mr. Kilrea’, and the rink. He was taken to the high school, met the educational consultant and a billet family. He didn’t give anything away in terms of his decision. We’ll see I guess.

PRE-GAME RADIO INTERVIEW w/KILLER (AJ)
(Thoughts on Game 3) We had too many turnovers. We gave them extra chances and it cost us. Hopefully we can play a bit better. If you don’t finish your checks and take your man they’ll be wide open.

(On line up) The same line up, McGinn’s not playing. If he could play he’d be in there. We don’t want to take a gamble, not with a 16 year old.

(What you need to change tonight) We’ll need to play a little bit smarter. A couple of guys didn’t play well.

(Who has stood out?) To pick one wouldn’t be fair, except for Battochio who has played every game. Some on defence have played really well. Some forwards working every night. To name one wouldn’t be fair.

(On Battochio’s academic award) He’s a very dedicated student. A couple of times there was a conflict with practice and school and school came first. He gets all the credit for that.

PRE-GAME INTERVIEW w/ASST COACH BEAULIEU (Schreibs)
(Thoughts on Game 3) I thought we played very well in the first period. The second Ottawa played well. I thought they took it to us. I thought they settled down in the third. Syvret got a big goal for us.

(On keys to Game 3 victory) Keep it simple. They played it really well on the road. It was good. I was happy with the way we executed the trap.

(On Bolland’s great play) Bolland is having a great season. He’s a good player. He’s got great hands and he’s a quick shooter. He runs on his skates a little bit. Last year he took his game to another level and he’s doing it this year.

(On Coleman getting the start) Adam has been struggling a bit with pulled stomach muscles, and that’s why we changed. Gerald came in and settled things down. He’s going to start tonight.

(On what they expect tonight) I think that Ottawa is going to throw everything at us. Killer will get them ready to go.

LINE UP
OTTAWA
Forwards:
_Bickell, Talbot, Hulit (started)
_Lawrance, Bonello, Mancari
_Akeson, Petruzalek, Kaspar
_VanderVeeken, Ouellette, Alphonso

Defensive Pairings:
_Colbert, Joslin
_Staubitz, Reid
_Van Herpt, Beard

Starting in goal:
_Battochio
_Guadagnolo back-up

Scratches:
_McGinn (inj-shoulder)
_Lahey (inj-conc)
_Spezza (healthy)
_Jarram (healthy)
_Kiriakou (healthy)

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS
Thought they’d come out a little harder, be a little more aggressive, more prepared. It’s not looking too good now – three in a row against London will be a ginormous task, but we’ll see what happens tomorrow. A couple pics from the game capturing the only goal scored by Ottawa in the first period:

The 67s – and fans – celebrate after scoring.
Lawrance smiling, Mancari giving him props after scoring.
Close up: the only smile seen on the 67s for the rest of the night.
The 67s need a hero - or as their main site reads, a miracle. We’ll be watching and cheering them on in Game 5.

SCORING
OTTAWA
1, Lawrance, (1) (Mancari, Reid), 14:23

LONDON
1, Larman, (3) , 02:28
2, Bolland, (10) (Perry, Fritsche), 03:24
3, Schremp, (11) (Hunter), 01:04
3, Schremp, (12) (Larman, Perry), 07:18

PENALTIES
OTTAWA
1 - Bickell, 4:31 - Hooking, ,2min (PP)
1 - Reid, 6:16 - Unsportsmanlike Cnd., ,2min
1 - Joslin, 19:36 - High Sticking, ,2min (PP)
1 - Staubitz, 20:00 - Roughing, ,2min
2 - Bonello, 1:11 - High Sticking, ,2min (PP)
2 - Bonello, 1:11 - 10-Minute Misconduct,
2 - Staubitz, 5:51 - Holding, ,2min (PP)
3 - Bickell, 10:12 - Spearing, ,2min (PP)
3 - Bickell, 10:12 - Spearing, ,2min (PP)
3 - Bickell, 19:42 - Unsportsmanlike Cnd., ,2min

LONDON
1 - Bolland, 6:16 - Unsportsmanlike Cnd., ,2min
1 - Foreman, 8:14 - High Sticking, ,2min (PP)
1 - Prust, 20:00 - Slashing, ,2min
2 - Ferry, 12:23 - Interference, ,2min (PP)
3 - Prust, 19:42 - Unsportsmanlike Cnd., ,2min

THREE STARS
OHL thee stars were: (1) Schremp, (2) Bolland, and (3) Syvret.
TEAM 1200 thee stars were: (1) Schremp, (2) C. Perry, and (3) Bolland.

REFFING
Hobor.

ATTENDANCE
9862.

NEXT UP
Game 5 – OTT at LON – 5.14 (Sat) @ 7pm
Game 6 – LON at OTT – 5.16 (Mon) @ 7pm (if necessary)
Game 7 – OTT at LON – 5.17 (Tue) @ 7pm (if necessary)

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