Forward Combos:
Nigro, Martindale, Nesbitt
Smith, Lindsay, Toffoli (starters)
Janes, Merrett, Carnevale,
Hanes, Graovac, Stevens
D-pairs
Zanetti, Cuma
Demers, Gibbons (starters)
Hartwick, Ceci
Goal: Perugini
Scratches: Cowick, Birkhoff
It was home captain Tyler Cuma scoring his first goal of the season on a one-timer from the point that put Ottawa on the scoreboard early in the first period. Zanetti and Tyler Toffoli assisted on the PPG. If there was a third assist to award, it would go to Dalton Smith for screening Zador.
Ottawa then managed to get into a bit of penalty trouble, including two in the penalty box for 38 seconds. The 67s limited the Gens to 5 shots for the entire run of penalties in the frame including no shots allowed during 1:23 where the same killers were stuck on the ice.
But Connor Stokes evened it up with a shot off the post with less than 5 minutes left in the first.
The second period was goal-fest with 6 goals scored between the two teams. The Gens struck first to go ahead on Thomas Christian's first of two PPGs in the period almost 10 minutes apart. Right after the next faceoff, Peter Stevens dropped the gloves with Alex Dzielski. Stevens clearly had the upper hand in the tilt.
It had the desired affect for the 67s as they came back to tie the game just 35 seconds later. Jon Carnevale was unassisted in his 4th game of the year when he finally got it past Zador on his third try.
And just three minutes later, Cody Ceci roofed a loose puck to put Ottawa ahead for good. It was the result of relentless work on the powerplay, keeping the puck in play in the Oshawa zone not allowing Zador to grab it for a whistle. Tyler Toffoli and Cody Lindsay were credited with the assists. And that was it for Zador, for the moment. Kevin Bailie went into the net.
Then it became the Tyler Toffoli scoring clinic. His first goal put the 67s up by two when he tapped Cody Lindsay's rebound past Bailie. Dalton Smith got the second assist.
Thomas Christian got the Gens back within one with his second PPG of the game with Dalton Smith in the sin-bin.
Toffoli got the 2-goal lead back unassisted on yet another highlight reel goal that started when he blocked Wilson's shot from the point, picked up the puck and fought off Wilson and tucked the puck behind Bailie.
It looked like the Gens scored on the very next play when Boone Jenner put a rebound past Perugini. But on the review, it was called back as it seemed to go off his glove although the replay at home seems to show it go off the stick. That was a bad call. Ottawa got a break on that one - big time.
Toffoli scored the only goal of the third and made it a hat trick with a wrist shot that beat Bailie high blocker. Tyler Cuma and Chris Perugini assisted. Bailie was pulled and Zador was put back in the game.
Oshawa kept at it including laying out some big hits but the 67s were stronger for the decisive 6-3 despite being out-shot 39-48.
Here's the game sheet.
Random Thoughts:
- Lots to like about the 67s right now. Looking forward to see how they take it on the road as both teams lost last night and Ottawa has now vaulted to 4th place in the Conference.
- Perugini was lucky on a couple of his puck handling attempts. Miscommunications with his D created opportunities for the Gens.
- Perugini faced 48 shots. It sure would be interesting to see how many shots were blocked. It seemed like there must have been another 20.
- Ryan Martindale had what I think might be his first OHL fight with Andy Andreoff.
- The Sointu trade allows Byrne to give his young guys more ice time and allow them to improve and they are taking full advantage of it now as someone will start sitting out once Corey Cowick gets back which may be around the end of January.
- Oshawa played better than the score indicates. They are a young team that played hard right to the end. There was some good forechecking pressure, odd-man rushes and cycling.
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