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January 23, 2010

Perugini and the 67's Shut out the Bulls

With their 3-0 shut-out of the Belleville Bulls, the Ottawa 67's have won 5 of the 6 times these two teams have met, outscoring them 19-8 in the last 5 games.

Forward Combos:
Cowick, Martindale, Nesbitt
Nigro, Lindsay, Toffoli
Smith, Prince, Carnevale,
Graovac, Merrett, Janes

D-pairs
Zanetti, Cuma
Demers, Gibbons
Hanes, Ceci

Goal: Perugini

Scratches: Hartwick

Belleville had a pretty good first period, forechecking hard, cycling well and getting some good scoring chances. It looked like it was going to be a tight game.

However, it was an entirely different game after than. Belleville opened with 1:36 remaining in Corey Cowick's penalty for delay of game (puck over the glass). Having put 11 shots on Perugini in the first period, they only managed 2 in the entire second (Ottawa had 13). Ottawa simply took control.

Ottawa opened the scoring with a quick goal off a faceoff when Ryan Martindale got the puck to Corey Cowick who beat Teichmann before he had a chance to figure out what was happening.

Belleville did a good job clearing rebounds out of harm's way in front of their goalie but there were completely unable to mount any sort of attack of their own.

Ottawa's second goal came while Belleville's Judson was tying up Gibbons deep in the Ottawa zone. It sure looked like interference to me but whatever he was hoping to achieve with that little stunt, I'm sure he wasn't expecting his team to get scored on. So, while he was taking Gibbons and himself out of the play, the 67's took the puck up-ice and Cody Lindsay scored 5-hole on the backhand. Tyler Toffoli and Julien Demers with the assists.

And the third period didn't fare any better for Belleville. Although they managed a few more shots on Perugini (5 to Ottawa's 10), Jon Carnevale pretty much put it away early in the period, beating Teichmann 5-hole on sharp pass from Dalton Smith from behind the net. Julien Demers got the second assist for the dump in that started it all.

Ottawa kept it up but were unable to generate any more goals.

With just 47 seconds left in the period, whatever bad blood was brewing during the game spilled over. It started with a fight between Dalton Smith and Luke Judson. As the combatants were being dealt with, Belleville's Luciani was at the 67's bench carrying on a conversation with someone. As he was leaving the vicinity, something set him off and he went after someone on or near the bench. There was quite the scrum including Cuma and Strong getting into the act. A whole lotta PIMs were handed out but the outcome of the game was already sealed.

So, the battleground has intensified for the next time these teams meet. It will be interesting.

Here's the game sheet.

Three Stars as selected by the Team1200


Hardest Working 67 as selected by the Team1200: Travis Gibbons


Random Thoughts:
  • Neither team was effective on the PP although Ottawa at least spent more time in the offensive zone than the Bulls did on their PPs.
  • It was good to see the 67's continue playing hard right to the end.
  • Gibbons was everywhere! He had a great game.
  • George Burnett shared his thoughts with Byrne and the ref as he left the ice. I'm guessing it had to do with the shenanigans at the end of the game. I certainly hope he wasn't defending his boy. The kid had no business standing at the bench and chirping the 67's.
  • Toffoli and Martindale were in Windsor for the CHL Top Prospects game earlier this week. Both players were on Team Orr. They lost to Team Cherry. Here's the article from the Ontario Hockey League site. It provides a link to the game sheet.
  • Earlier this week, Dave Schrieber, The Voice, announced his semi-retirement. He will still be calling games but will also have time for other interests. I was in Brussels last Friday and took advantage of the free wifi in the hotel to listen to the game on Team1200. I set my alarm for 1AM local time and just closed my eyes and listened - no distractions like driving or working on something or whatever. What a great job he does of it - it's easy to "see" what is going on in the game. I strongly suggest you take the time to close your eyes and just listen to Schriebs call a game if you get the chance. Glad to hear that he will still be at it for a while. (I didn't make it through the whole game though - fell asleep at the second intermission - I was still jet-lagged and pretty much sleep-discombobulated.)

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