The
Kingston Frontenacs scored three unanswered goals to defeat the Ottawa 67’s 5-4
in overtime. The 67’s gave up a 4-2 lead
with less than 5 minutes remaining in the third period sacrificing a much
needed two points.
Lightning
prospect, Henri Ikonen opened the
scoring for the Frontenacs. Converting
on a bad 67’s line change, Corey Pawley
slid the puck to Ikonen in the slot and he made no mistake but to re-direct it
behind Philippe Trudeau in the
Ottawa net. After hitting a couple
posts, the 67’s capitalized off a wide rebound.
Dante Salituro snuck in on
the short side to tip in the rebound tying the game at 1.
“It's all
so close right now, so we're just going to get a couple points on the board and
I think we'll be fine,” said Salituro who has 4 goals and 10 points against the
Frontenacs this season.
After
being badly outshot 16-4 in the opening frame, the 67’s came out with vengeance
in the second period exploding to a 3-1 lead.
Travis Konency banked in a
rebound on an odd man rush while Connor
Brown was left all along out front scoring on the sharp angle. But 34 seconds later, the Frontenacs would
strike back. Darcy Greenaway picked up his 34 goal of the season after picking
up a loose puck near the crease. It was
a great road period for Ottawa where they outshot Kingston 15-10.
“We knew
Ottawa, coming into this game, we weren't going to take them lately and they
showed us why exactly. They're a very good hockey team and they're battling for
playoff spot right now so they're definitely earning every inch of ice out
there,” said Warren Steele who finished
as a +1 on the night.
It was
looking great early in the third period. Tyler
Hill split the D and lifted the puck high glove side past Matt Mahalak to regain the 67’s two-goal
lead on the powerplay. Then the
Frontenacs started to put on more pressure.
It wasn’t until the 15 minute mark that the Frontenacs were able to
solve Trudeau again. Robert Polesello scored his first of
the night, a highlight reel goal, to cut the lead to one.
Then the
Fronteancs were awarded a powerplay with just over 2 minutes remaining in the
period. Mike Moffat tied the game at 4 with a shot from the high slot, one
that Trudeau would want back.
“I
noticed that Ottawa was changing there so I had a bit of time and lucky
enough that soft shot went in,” Moffat said after the game.
Polesello
was the hero in overtime. Just 17 seconds
after a 67’s powerplay expired, Polesello picked up his second goal of the
night. Scoring another highlight reel
goal but this time with 19 seconds left in the extra frame to seal the
Frontenacs victory.
“It's not
too surprising to see him do stuff like that but they're definitely highlight
real goals,” said Moffat who scored the game tying goal.
While the
67’s lost a point tonight are still in the playoff hunt. With the Mississauga Steelheads defeating the
Niagara IceDogs in the shootout tonight, the 67’s playoff hopes are no longer
in the fate of their own hands.
The 67’s are
now siting in 9th place, 2 points behind the Steelheads. The 67’s will need to win their final game in
North Bay on Sunday afternoon but will also need the Steelheads to lose their final
game against the Frontenacs in regulation to force a one-game playoff
tiebreaker.
Around
the OHL:
- The Kingston Frontenacs secure the 3rd position in the playoffs.
- The Belleville Bulls have been eliminated from playoff contention.
- The Niagara Ice Dogs clinch a playoff position leaving only one left. It’s a dog race between Ottawa and Mississauga
Game
sheet here.
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