Ottawa 67s Fan Report: Barrie Breaks Season Series Tie, Leave Ottawa With 5-3 Win

Sophie Desrosiers and Alex Quevillon
Fans were treated to an exciting game despite the loss at TD Place Sunday afternoon as the 67’s fell 5-3 to the Barrie Colts, just the second regulation loss on home ice this season. It was the third meeting between both teams who exchanged wins at home for the first two.

The tilt was a physical one from the get-go. Barrie’s Nick Pastorious was given a double-minor mid-way through the first for a check from behind on Connor Graham, who left the ice but later returned. The 67’s were unable to capitalize on the four-minute powerplay and the game remained scoreless after the first period.

The scoreboard lit up in the second with five goals exchanged between both teams. The Colts were first to strike just over six minutes in. Brendan Lemieux scored his first of two when the puck trickled past goaltender Leo Lazarev.

Less than two minutes later Brendan Bell took a penalty for interference. Andrew Mangiapane scored just eight seconds into the powerplay, giving the Colts a 2-0 lead.

The 67’s regained momentum after Dante Salituro scored a powerplay goal of his own with 5:56 left in the period. 

Not long after, Travis Barron tied the game with his sixth goal of the season, but Barrie’s Cordell James brought the Colts up by one again before the period ended.

The game remained close through half of the third period until James and Lemieux respectively scored just 46 seconds apart, giving the Colts a 5-2 lead.

Salituro gave the 67’s a chance when he shot the puck past Colts goalie Mackenzie Blackwood with 1:29 left, adding his second of the game. But it was too little too late for the 67’s, who now sit sixth in the eastern conference at 13-12-1-1 record.

The game marked the end of an eight-game point streak for forward Travis Konecny.

Jeff Brown wasn’t pleased with the outcome.

"We have to remember what made us successful for that stretch there. We’re splintering now and we need to get back to playing as a team,” he said. “It’s an easy game when you’re making smart decisions."

He would like to see more of an effort from some of his players.

“We’ve got some guys letting us down,” he added. “At the end of the day, the guys have to play for one another and they aren’t.”

But Brown hasn’t given up, adding “we’ve got some work to do and we’ll move on from there.”

The 67’s next game is Friday December 12 when they host the Belleville Bulls in their annual Teddy Bear Toss game. Fans are asked to bring a new or gently-used stuffed toy to toss on the ice after the first 67’s goal. The toys collected will be donated to local families in need over the holidays in collaboration with the Salvation Army.

Game sheet here.

Groulx in for Studnicka

Sam Studnicka could be gone for a while for his hit on Carter Verhaege on Friday, and while Brown isn't sure of his grinder's status, the team is covering its bases, calling up Kevin Groulx.

Groulx had just under a minute of powerplay time in his first game at TD place, saw ice time on the second unit alongside Salituro, and was on the ice for the first shift of the third period, a dominant one for the 67's.

Lazarev's chance in (and out) of the net

Giving your rookie netminder reps will come with its fair share of growing pains but it's the best way to measure a young goalie's progression.

As Lazarev is learning to be a little less aggressive, his puckhandling skills are coming to the forefront more often of late.

It was one of the few positives in Ottawa's end on Sunday, however. The defence had no legs in front of a young backstopper. That's never a recipe for success, and even with the 67's late barrage of shots, Blackwood outdueled Lazarev.

Brown has "no timetable" for Liam Herbst's return, so Lazarev and recent callup Marcus Semiao may have to make do for a little bit.

Three Stars as selected by TSN1200: