Ottawa 67s Fan Report: 67's Top Line Takes Advantage Of Slumping Generals

The Ottawa 67’s top line did all the work offensively as they took advantage of a slumping Oshawa team and a backup netminder to take a decisive 4-1 victory on Saturday afternoon.

Ryan Van Stralen had a natural hattrick, while linemates Erik Bradford and Travis Konecny pitched in with a pair of points each.

"It was a good effort by everyone," said Van Stralen. "Everything was going the right direction, we were really pushing ourselves."

The win came on the heels of a big 6-0 loss to Peterborough on Thursday.

"We really got a full effort," said Chris Byrne on his team's response to Thursday's setback. "We had a solid road period in the first in Peterborough but didn't play so well in the second and third."

"Today we played a 60-minute game."

With the win, the Barberpoles have already surpassed their win total from last season, moving two points back of Niagara for eighth place with a game in hand.

Having allowed five goals in a pair of home losses, Oshawa chose to go with backup netminder Ken Appleby, although despite a lopsided shot differential and goalie shakeup, Bradford would open the scoring for Ottawa.

In the middle frame, Van Stralen took over.

He had his first goal of the afternoon on a solo rush, following up with a second off a no-look, behind-the-back pass from Bradford.

Hometown netminder Daniel Altshuller took over for the visitors in the third, and gave his team a chance to stay in it, helping Oshawa kill off two 5-on-3 advantages and stopping Jake Middleton and Bradford on late breakaways.

Ottawa’s third breakaway of the period couldn’t be stopped – Van Stralen going in on an empty net – as they put the game out of reach.

Philippe Trudeau stopped the first 33 shots he faced before losing his bid for a shutout in the final 10 seconds.

Tonight is a big night of scoreboard watching for the 67’s, as the two non-playoff teams in the Western Conference take on the two teams ahead of Ottawa in the East.

Kitchener takes on Niagara (67’s two points back, one game in hand) while Sarnia hosts Mississauga (four points back, one game in hand).

Game sheet here.

Assorted Notes:

For the second time this year, the 67’s called up a local product to get a taste of the OHL. Ben Fanjoy played on a line with Connor Graham and John Urbanic, setting up Graham for a good scoring chance on his first career shift.
There was no love lost from last month’s match between these teams that had 115 penalty minutes. Jonathan Duchesne and Hunter Smith, who were both ejected late in that game, fought in the opening minutes to set the tone.
Duchesne is now the closest 67 to a possible suspension with his seventh fighting major.
Sticking with the suspension discussion, it appears as though Bradford has avoided supplementary discipline for his checking to the head misconduct on Thursday night.