Potentially Costly Win Pulls 67's Into Eighth

It’s possible that it’ll end up being a costly win, but an early injury to Ryan Van Stralen didn’t stop the Ottawa 67’s from taking a 4-3 overtime decision in Belleville on Wednesday night.

Van Stralen left the game with an apparent hand injury at the end of the first, replaced by Brendan Bell on Ottawa’s top line as the 67’s faced a 1-0 deficit.

With the game 2-1 Belleville later on in the middle frame, Bell finished off a beautiful passing play to tie the game at two, before registering an assist on Travis Konecny’s 20th of the season to give the visitors their first lead.

Remi Elie tied the game in the third for a Belleville team that was nearly doubling Ottawa in the shot count.

In the ensuing overtime, Ottawa’s top line didn’t need Van Stralen or Bell, as Konecny took advantage of the 4-on-4 on the large ice surface, sending Erik Bradford in on a breakaway.

Bradford waited out Charlie Graham to deposit the game winner.

Philippe Trudeau didn’t have to make any stops in the extra frame, but made 35 of them to get his team to extra time.

Dante Salituro, who had one of his best games of the year, also tallied for Ottawa.

Van Stralen is expected to have x-rays done before Ottawa’s next game in Oshawa on Friday.

Most importantly, the 67’s are back in a playoff spot for the time being, passing Niagara by one point.

Game sheet here.