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September 27, 2014

67's Drop Opener In Kingston

According to the OHL's official online app, screenshot seen below, the 67's didn't even show up for their season opening match in Kingston.









And while there have been divisional games that they didn't put up much of a fight in the past couple seasons, it certainly wasn't the case on Friday, as they were simply overpowered by the team expected by many to win the conference this year.

Ben Fanjoy had the lone Ottawa goal, his first career tally, a backhand from the side of the net that tied the game midway through the second at the tail-end of a powerplay.

Robert Polesello and Lawson Crouse both tallied in the third as Ottawa only mustered five shots on Lucas Peressini in the closing frame to close out a 3-1 road loss.

Leo Lazarev turned aside 31 shots in his OHL debut

Middleton, Vlajkov hurt

With Taylor Davis on waivers and Mike Vlajkov re-aggravating the injury that kept him out most of last season, an Ottawa defence that looked deep at the end of training camp is suddenly looking thin again.

The 67's iced a top pairing of the two blueliners drafted by Los Angeles in the summer, Alex Lintuniemi and Jake Middleton, but a collision between the two put Ottawa at an early disadvantage in the opening frame.

Trying to cut across to take out Spencer Watson, Lintuniemi collided hard with Middleton, knocking him to the ice and out of the game.

Kingston's quick counters

Not a lot has changed from last season in that the Kingston Frontenacs don't seem to have any trouble creating grade-A scoring opportunities immediately after the puck drop.

They burned Peterborough 17 seconds into their season opener on Thursday and nearly did it again against Ottawa, as Ryan Kujawinski hit the post six seconds in.

Kujawinski would eventually open the scoring with a one-timer on the powerplay.

Ottawa's best line

His career to this point may have been disappointing but Andrew Abou-Assaly looked a lot more comfortable in the center ice position serving as the pivot between Jeremiah Addison and the goal scorer Fanjoy.

While Bell-Bradford-Konecny lines up as Ottawa's top unit, they may be better served to move one of their grittier forwards down the lineup.  Although Travis Konecny is one of the most dynamic players in the league, there isn't enough top-end speed on the line to keep opposing defences honest.

Erik Bradford did have Ottawa's best chance in the opening frame, as he was stopped on a clear break.

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The game sheet, this one actually showing the 67's having actually played the game, can be found here.

The Barberpoles have a full week off before they take on the Oshawa Generals.

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