Ottawa 67s Fan Report: Third Period Rally Powers the 67's Over the Generals

3 unanswered goals in the third from Cody Lindsay, Tyler Cuma and Thomas Nesbitt powered the Ottawa 67's to an exciting come-from-behind 4 - 3 win over the Oshawa Generals.

Forward Combos:
Cowick, Nigro, Merrett (starters)
Smith, Lindsay, Toffoli
Prince, Martindale, Nesbitt
Hanes, Graovac, Carnevale

D-pairs
Zanetti, Cuma (starters)
Demers, Gibbons
Hartwick, Ceci

Goal: Mrazek

Scratches: Janes

The game started well enough for the 67's with Cody Lindsay getting his first goal of the night just a minute and a half into the game when his shot from the slot trickled through the pads of Michael Zador. Dalton Smith and Julien Demers assisted on the goal.

Ottawa continued to carry the play although it wasn't very dangerous play (well, one post hit). It took over 10 minutes for Oshawa to get their first shot on Mrazek but Ottawa had only 5 of their own to that point. To my untrained eye it looked like Ottawa was not playing with any emotion or intensity and Oshawa was slowly getting rid of their bus-legs or whatever was holding them back. Christian Thomas tied up the game just as Dalton Smith's penalty for roughing ended.

The Generals really came to play in the second period, starting with Christian Thomas' second goal of the night less than a minute in. And just over the half-way mark, Alain Berger put the Gens up by two. Watching the 67's on the ice and on the bench, you just didn't get the sense that anyone from the organization was all that into the game. Oshawa outplayed Ottawa for most of that frame although Ottawa outshot Oshawa 16 - 13.

With a two-goal lead, the Gennies started the third with the intention of protecting their lead and for a while Ottawa struggled to break through the trap and get things going in their offensive zone. But, in the last half of the period, Ottawa found it's stride and its purpose and they took over.

First it was Cody Lindsay with his second goal of the night and 39th of the season that cut Oshawa's lead to 1. Anthony Nigro and Marc Anthony Zanetti helped him out on that one. Then less than two minutes later while the teams were playing 4-on-4 Tyler Cuma, who is on a bit of a scoring streak lately with 3 goals in 2 games, tied the game. Marc Anthony Zanetti was in on that one too as was Tyler Toffoli.

Oshawa knew the game was slipping away from them as Ottawa's growing confidence was evident. I didn't see any replays but the worst offense by the fading Gennies was the crash on Petr Mrzazek by Andrew Wilson. It looked like he didn't even try to check his speed and Petr, Wilson and the net went sprawling. And then the scrap was on.

When it was all unraveled, Cowick was in the penalty box for 2:00, Wilson was kicked out of the game and the Gens had to serve a 5-minute major.

Thomas Nesbitt capped the come back with his 32nd goal of the season with just under 6 minutes left in the game. Ryan Martindale and Travis Gibbons chipped in on the GWG.

Petr Mrazek made a couple of great saves to protect the lead, including this leap in the air as well as a sharp glove save in the dying seconds.

While the Gens battled hard for the 8th and final playoff spot, with the Sudbury win in Kingston and their own loss in Ottawa, they will end their 2009-2010 on the road in Peterborough tonight. No playoffs for them.

The 67's meanwhile, wrap up their regular season tomorrow in Ottawa against the Sudbury Wolves who could end up as the first round match-up. Sudbury, Niagara and Peterborough are still sorting out the last 3 seeds of the Eastern Conference.

Here's the game sheet.

Three Stars as selected by the Team1200

Hardest Working 67 as selected by the Team1200: Anthony Zanetti (unfortunately I didn't get a good picture of him during the game)

Random Thoughts:

While it was the guys who put the puck in the net, I really think you need to thank me for the outcome...6 of the 7 goals scored were at the end where I was not sitting. I normally shoot at the end where Ottawa attacks twice but for the third period I decided to shoot from the end where Ottawa defends. Right - three goals by Ottawa, none by Oshawa. I knew that would happen. You're welcome.
In all seriousness, it was good to see the 67's play this game (or at least parts of it) like it mattered.
10 different Ottawa players contributed to the 12 points handed out in the game. Gotta like that.
0 for 7 on the PP, not so much to like about that. Teams won't hesitate to take liberties.

More Pictures:

Mayor Jim O'Brien declared March 12th as First Responders day to honour the police, fire and paramedic personnel in Ottawa. The Ottawa 67's club donated 1000 tickets to our first responders and local broadcaster Max Keeping welcomed them and thanked them on our behalf.