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December 12, 2009

Another Battle Won

The Ottawa 67s have won all three games against the Battalion with their 3-1 win at the Urbandale Centre last night. The win is a good start to a tough weekend.

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

The first period got to a slow start, including a long delay to replace a plastic connector between two panes of glass. No flow before the repair and by the time the period was half over, each team had only mustered 3 shots each. With Ottawa's 4th shot on goal, Anthony Nigro finally got the first goal of the game when he beat Carp native and Pittsburgh prospect, Patrick Killeen. Ryan Martindale fed the puck to him from behind the net for the quick goal. Mark Anthony Zanetti had the second assist.

Jon Carnevale, who had two goals against Brampton the last time they were here, scored his 6th goal of the year when his sharp-angle shot from the corner near the goal line went in through the legs of Killeen. He was unassisted in what turned out to be the game-winner.

Perugini made a fabulous glove save on Carrick when Tyler Cuma gave the puck to Carrick away deep in his own zone. Carrick had Perugini dead to rights, down and having to move across the crease but he was denied! But Ottawa was scrambling and with 56 seconds left in the period, Phillip Lane tucked it past Perugini to make it a 1-goal game.

3 goals between the teams from a total 16 shots on goal.

The second period was scoreless and not particularly noteworthy. Not that it was a bad period, it just wasn't all that exciting.

The third had a bit more entertainment value including each team springing a player on a break-away. The first was a Brampton break-away when Jones got the puck at mid-ice and was all alone in on Perugini from the blue line. He tried to go stick-side but was denied.

The Ottawa break-away was a beaut. Anthony Nigro connected with Thomas Nesbitt with a long pass that went between the legs of the defender. Nesbitt's fast shot beat Killeen high glove-side and restored the two-goal lead. Tyler Cuma with the other assist.

Mark Anthony Zanetti took an unnecessary penalty with 1:27 left in the game. Brampton called a time out and with the face-of in the Ottawa zone, they pulled Killeen for the extra attacker and a 6-on-4. Ottawa did a great job putting pressure on the Battalion and forced an icing. That put the face-off back into the Brampton zone and Killeen back into the net and sealed the deal.

Ottawa gets an important win at home to start a tough weekend.

Here's your link to the game sheet.

Three Stars as selected by the Team1200 (third star Carrick did not take a turn)


Hardest Working 67 as selected by the Team1200: Thomas Nesbitt


Random Thoughts:
  • It seemed to me that there wasn't a lot of emotion from the team during the game. They seemed a tad tense to me. They worked hard, and played tough but just didn't look like they were having fun.
  • Some really good defensive play - blocked shots, rebounds cleared, pockets picked.
  • There were some solid hits by both teams. Including the hit by Clark on Hanes that resulted in Peter Stevens challenging Clark. The call goes to Stevens - no question.
  • While Brampton had more shots on goal, many of them were really long-distance pucks on net that weren't real scoring threats.
  • I have no idea who the fastest skater is on the 67s but I would put my money on Nesbitt. His quickness puts pressure on other teams including a great short-handed scoring chance in the second in this game.
  • The Olympic torch was in the house but was not lit. Apparently it is not supposed to be lit prior to the official run in Ottawa on Saturday. Guess that rule does not apply to politicians and Parliament Hill. Too bad for us mere mortals.


This will be my last game before Christmas as I will be in Edmonton this time next week. Here's to a happy and safe Christmas, Hanukkah, Solstice, Kwanzaa or however you celebrate the season.

More Pictures:
Ceremonial Face-off with the Olympic torch






















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