Ottawa 67s Fan Report: Kingston takes the Game: 4-3

Today was the first chance for Ottawa fans to get a look a the new faces for this year's team Kingston. Both teams had a lot of players missing so I wouldn't put too much into the results. This will be a really quick post due to other obligations.

Forward Combos:

Prince, Lindsay, Carnevale
Farmer, Graovac, Janes
Foglia, Giftopolous, Fontana

D-Pairs:

Hanes, Gibbons,
Shipley, Ceci,
Fielding

Goal: Perugini

Scratches: Mrazek, Nesbitt, Zanetti, Monahan (injured), Smith, Martindale
It was a pretty up-tempo game with both teams showing a lot of energy - if not finesse. And even with so many new faces, it didn't take long for the rivalry to reveal itself with the new players pushing and shoving after the whistle and getting into each others' faces.

Kingston scored the only goals in the first period on 5 shots. The first was by Mike Farrell with assists from Steven Broek and Nathan Moon about 6 minutes into the game. Nathan, Derek Froats and Mike Farrell combined for the second goal with 7 minutes left in the period. Meanwhile, Ottawa started getting the shots through to Kingston starter Palezzese, piling 15 shots by the end of the first without getting through.

Ottawa didn't get on the scoreboard until close to halfway through the third when Tyler Graovac finally beat Blake Richard who took over Kingston netminding duties in the second period. Robert Farmer had the lone assist.

But before the goal was finished being announced, Kingston restored the 2-goal lead: Mitch Lebar, Nathan Moon, and Clarke Seymour doing the damage.

On the power play with 1:20 left, Ottawa was in the offensive zone but not quite in control when Perugini was pulled. It wasn't hard for Michael Cajovsky to gain possession and send the puck into the empty net to put them up 4-2.

Ottawa kept pushing and with just under 5 seconds left, Cody Lindsay got an unassisted PPG to make it a 1-goal game.

Final shots on goal: 43-22 for Ottawa.

Three Stars:

Nathan Moon was the first star but did not take a turn.
Random Thoughts:

Ottawa was 1 - 6 on the PP and perfect in the 4 PKs they were assessed, including great back-to-back PKs in the second. Each team had one shot on goal in during the 4 minutes.
Missing Toffoli, Nesbitt and Martindale from the PP was certainly noticed. Kingston had a few great short-handed opportunities that were thwarted by Perugini.
The Farmer, Graovac, Janes line was great to watch. They were fast, pushing for shots and in the mix of things. Will be interesting to see if they are kept together.
Gibbons and Hanes had their work cut out for them today as the vets on the blue line. Hanes even showed some attitude that I don't recall seeing last year.
Saw some great back-checking from Farmer.

I will miss the game on Friday as I will be winging my way back from Whitehorse.
More Pictures: