The name Cassels usually brings out good memories amongst long-time 67’s fans, but that wasn’t the case tonight. Cole Cassels, son of 67’s great Andrew Cassels, scored four times as his Oshawa Generals dominated the Ottawa 67’s in a 7-1 win Tuesday night extending their win streak to 5 games.
The lifeless crowd of 1,579 fans mimicked the play of the 67’s. After coming off two big wins and scoring 17 goals in their last three games, the 67’s came out of the gate flat. The 67’s only registered one shot on net in the first 7 minutes and it wasn’t until midway through the first until the 67’s got their first flurry of good scoring chances.
“The last three games, we liked our team, we liked the step we’re taking. For us, we have to get back to working hard and outworking teams and coming to the game ready to go right off the hop,” said head coach Chris Byrne.
Early goals have been an issue for the 67’s at home throughout this season. Tonight it took Gens rookie, Joe Manchurek only one minute and fifty seconds. Manchurek picked up a rebound on the side of the net and beat Philippe Trudeau glove side for his 3rd of the season. Less than 3 minutes later Cole Cassels would pick up his first of the game in a similar fashion but on Trudeau’s blocker side. Late in the period, Josh Sterk scored the Gens first powerplay goal to round out the scoring in the first period.
Specialty teams were a factor in tonight’s loss. The 67’s took 9 minor penalties including 6 straight in the third period that resulted in 4 goals.
“You need to have that kind of jam early in the game and do it without taking penalties. When the score gets pushed away from you, it’s too late to have some push back and to have some hard shifts.”
The parade to the penalty box did not allow the 67’s to gain any momentum and it was all Generals again in the second period. Undisciplined play caused two consecutive 2-man advantages for the opposing team. Cassels scored a goal on each 2-man advantage and added an additional powerplay goal within a span of 10 minutes leaving the 67’s with a deflating second period 6-0 deficit. It was Cassels’s first hattrick and his first 4-goal night of his OHL career.
“I realize this was dad’s kind of home for three years and he was the go-to-guy with the 67’s. I mean I can never match his numbers but I always want to prove I can play too, when I come here,” Cassels told the Ottawa Citizen.
Not much was going right for the 67’s and the decision was made to replace Philippe Trudeau with Jacob Blair for the start of the third. The team tighten up defensively and saw the Generals sit back with less than 10 shots on net for the only period of the game.
Nepean native and Gens goaltender Daniel Altshuller went untested for the majority of the night, but made the saves when he needed to. Altshuller’s shutout bid was spoiled when Sam Studnicka scored on a rebound with just over 6 minutes left in the game for the lone 67’s goal.
Jacob Busch rounded out the scoring with a beautiful shot for the only goal that got past Blair.
The 67’s did manage to escape the third period without any minor penalties which was a relief after being short-handed for most of the second.
“In our league when you get out of hand or things get out of hand, the suspensions come quick and as they should. For our guys we have games this weekend. Obviously not the result we wanted tonight but it’s one game. We’ve had a pretty good stretch of games here playing hard and playing well and we need to get back to that on Friday night,” said coach Byrne.
The 67’s host the Saginaw Spirit Friday night and the Kitchener Rangers Sunday afternoon.
Game sheet can be found here.
NOTES:
- The 67’s went 0/2 on the powerplay and 8/4 on the penalty kill
- The 67’s scored earlier in the third period, but the goal was disallowed after it determined that it was knocked in with a high stick from Konecny
- Michael Dal Colle added 5 assists tonight (including 3 primaries) and is now only three points back of Connor Brown for first in OHL scoring
- Joseph Blandisi was held off the scoresheet tonight snapping his 4 game goal and point streak
- With 4 goals on the night, Cole Cassels extends his goal scoring streak to 4 games and point streak to 5 games
- With 5 assists on the night, Michael Dal Colle extends his point streak to 5 games
Hardest Working 67's: Sam Studnicka
Some pictures from the game:
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