Cowick-bunga! Corey Cowick leads the way with 2 goals (and a fight)

The specialty teams were something special this afternoon. Ottawa put the hurt on the Soo Greyhounds with 4 – count’em - 4 powerplay goals and limiting them to maybe a half-dozen shots in total on their 5 powerplay opportunities – none getting past Perugini.

The lineups:
Cowick, Couture, Nesbitt,
Martindale, Latta, Toffoli
Lindsay, Kiriakou, Carnevale
Hanes, Anderson, Schinkelshoek

D-pairs:
Paryzek, Cuma
Birkhoff, Demers,
Hartwick, Zanetti

Perugini was back in the net.

Scratches: Ryan, Sonnenburg and Zamec.

The 67s pounced early and often in the first period as they notched 4 powerplay goals and chased starting goalie, Bryce O’Hagan from the goal after just 15 shots. Thomas Kiriakou started it when he got his own rebound off the end-boards and snapped by O’Hagan on Ottawa’s first power play less than two and a half minutes in the game. Marc Anthony Zanetti and Chris Perugini got the assists (go Chris!!).


First goal of the game and Thomas' 7th of the year.

The penalty on SSM’s Cameron Odam (who’s father apparently is a former 67s) was called just 34 seconds into the game. After the whistle blew for the penalty, Corey Cowick and Jake Carrick dropped the gloves. No idea what could have already happened to set them off but they were determined to fight. The home crowd gives the call to Cowick.


The Soo survived their next penalty kill but were 0-fer on the next three. Corey Cowick scored his first goal of the game with a wrap-around that he was able to tuck under O’Hagan. Nesbitt and Zanetti assisted. Then Julien Demers whipped one from the high slot. Tyler Toffoli assisted on that one. And that was the end of O’Hagan for the day. 3 goals on 15 shots in 10 minutes.

Tyler Cuma finished the first period run with a shot from the top of the circle. Toffoli and Latta assisted on that one.

The Greyhounds had been in this situation already on this weekend and managed to fight back with 4 goals in Peterborough. If they came out in the second period with that in mind, it took them a while to show it. It was a slow start by both teams with the Soo icing the puck several times. But they slowly took control of the play and kept Ottawa under a bit of pressure. The 67s only got 1 shot on St. Jacques in the first 7 and a half minutes . The Soo on the other hand was getting shots through to Perugini. With 7 and a half minutes left in the period, their hard work finally paid off when Matt Caria broke the shut-out. Fischhaber and Carrick go the assists.

But Ottawa got that one back 3 minutes later when Tyler Cuma made a beautiful move around a sliding Greyhound, got the puck to Cowick in the slot and he beat St. Jacques trapper side. Logan Couture assisted and Ottawa was back to a 4-goal lead. It certainly was the Soo’s best period but it was Ottawa that still held the upper hand.

But the 67s seemed tentative in the third and the Hounds were hungry. And it paid off once again, early in the third when Simon Fischhaber was left unattended on Perugini’s doorstep to receive Michael Quesnele’s pass from the point. Perugini didn’t stand a chance. Anthony Peluso had the other assist.

But the 67s weren’t about to let the dogs back into the game and the Greyhounds were not about to lie down and the game opened up in the middle of the frame. With the shots at 32 – 35 for SSM, Ryan Martindale scored his 4th of the year with assists coming from Tyler Toffoli and Martin Paryzek. And that was the game. The 67s didn’t sit back but they also didn’t give the Greyhounds many chances.

They got the split for the weekend and are back at .500 hockey. It was a good weekend (even the loss to Windsor).

Random thoughts:

• Today was Brian Kilrea’s 2100th game behind the bench. And the team gave him a very good win to celebrate it. Congratulations Brian! And good work guys.
  
• I noticed Craig Hartsburg before the game – not sure if he stayed for it but I imagine he had the time to see his former team. Pretty sure he wasn’t too impressed. Then again, he might have been already in that state of mind after the Sens game last night. I switched over to the Bulls – Spits game after the second period. That was a good game!
  
• Great article in today's Ottawa Sun about the TML line. Give it a read.
  
• A much better game by Couture and Cuma.
  
• Cody Lindsay couldn’t buy a goal today. He certainly had some great chances. Hang in there – they will come with continued hard work.
  
• Perugini had all new equipment today. He looked all shiny for a while and then the rubber started leaving its marks. Glad to see he had white pads. The Vaughn sports guy we chatted with at the Memorial Cup said that white pads are better. The idea is not to create clear definition that makes it easier for the shooters to see the edges of the goale.
  
• Some other hockey bloodlines in the game today: Tomas Rachunek son of former Ottawa Senator Karel Rachunek, Jordan Nolan son of former NYI coach Ted Nolan (who's firing was a big mistake IMO) and Brock Beukeboom son of former NY Ranger Jeff Beukeboom.
  

Another good game to watch. This is one of the more exciting years in awhile. Next up – the Sarnia Sting on Friday. Friday is also the day the club tries to beat the Guinness World Record for people wearing Groucho Glasses (who comes up with these categories!). It’s a great game-day promotion. Come on out and help break the record!!

In the meantime, have a great week!

The Three Stars as selected by the Team1200


Hardest working 67s as selected by the Team1200: Thomas Kiriakou




Cody Lindsay working hard.


Another big save.


Martindale working hard.


Toffoli.