Jacob Ringuette scored the game winning goal and added an assist in his Spirit’s 7-3 drubbing over the Ottawa 67’s on Friday night.
Dylan Sadowy kicked things off for the Spirit with less than one minute into the opening frame on the first shot of the night. Bruins prospect Cody Payne and Sabres prospect Eric Locke added two more goals to give the 67’s a 3-0 deficit in the first; a deficit far too familiar for the 67’s.
The 67’s had a couple good chances in the first period but could not find a way to beat Jake Paterson in the Spirit net. Paterson, who is expected to suit up for Canada in the upcoming World Junior Championships, had an exceptional game, made some key saves and stopped 27 of 30 shots earning the first star of the game.
Unfortunately, the defensive play and goaltending lead to the 67’s demise tonight. Philippe Trudeau was pulled after allowing 4 goals on just 11 shots. Shortly after the switch in net, the Spirit got into some penalty trouble resulting in two consecutive 5-on-3s going the other way.
It took until the final 20 seconds of the last powerplay for the 67’s to get things rolling as Andrew Abou-Assaly finally put one past Paterson. Brendan Bell score a pair of goals 5 minutes apart to get the 67’s within one goal. It was likely Bell’s best period of his career with the 67’s.
“He had a great game, a couple nice goals. He played hard from start to finish. Just a real good game for him,“ said 67’s head coach Chris Byrne.
Bell had 7 shots, 3 points, finished a +2 and was even throwing his weight around. Bell was the only 67’s player not on the ice for any goal against.
Things started to look better going into the 3rd with the 67’s trailing 4-3 after two. But the Spirit tightened up defensively and outshot the 67’s for the first time in the game. A couple weak goals and the 67’s found themselves back fighting for a comeback. The Spirit scored three goals in 10 minutes to secure the win.
So, what happened in the third?
“We got scored on early. I think we had some good shifts, some good chances. We hit a post at one point but giving up goals after, you’re not going to win a lot of games when you gotta to score 6 and 7 goals to win a hockey game. We needed to hold them to 4, play better and we didn’t do that,” said a frustrated Byrne.
It’s not the first time a 67’s comeback has come up short this season. It’s also not the first time the 67’s have shown several flashes of brilliance, but that’s what it has just been, flashes.
“When you see us play the right way, we can compete with anybody. For us, we got to do it for entire games and have everybody doing it the same way. It’s been a message for our guys and some of our guys haven’t bought in and that’s our job and get everybody on the same page and everybody pulling in the same direction.”
The 67’s host the last-in-the-OHL Kitchener Rangers on Sunday afternoon.
Game sheet can be found here.
Shots:
Three Stars as Selected by TSN1200
Hardest Working 67's: Andrew Abou-Assaly
Some Pictures from the game:
One of the new guys: Ryan Duhaime
Brendan Bell's second goal
Brett Gustavsen absolutely robbed at point blank by Paterson.
Click here to see more pictures.
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