Ottawa 67s Fan Report: IceDogs tie series with 4-3 OT win over 67’s

Brendan Perlini scored the game winning goal at the 6:03 mark in overtime winning 4-3 and tieing the series at 2. The Coyotes prospect scored on the wrap around bringing a sold out home crowd of 5,300 to their feet at the Meridian Centre in Niagara.

Photo: Robert Lefebvre / www.icelevel.com (from Dec 5, 2014)

After the winning team outscored their opposition 22-9 in the first 3 games of this series, the fans were finally treated by two teams that showed up on the same night. The result, however, was unfortunate for the Ottawa 67’s.

“The boys came to play tonight and deserved a better fate. We had so many opportunities to end it and for whatever reason we didn’t,” 67’s head coach Jeff Brown told TSN1200. “They go down one time and score. That’s playoff hockey.”

Travis Konecny opened the scoring on a breakaway at the 2:23 mark of the first period but just three minutes later, Josh Ho-Sang tied it up at 1.

The IceDogs got their first lead of the game midway through the second period as Vince Dunn sent a weak shot past Liam Herbst in the 67’s net, a goal he will definitely want to have back. It was Dunn’s first goal since his 4-goal performance in game 1. Dunn was effective tonight in all aspects of the game and was one of the best IceDogs players on the ice.

Brendan Bell responded late in the third with his first of the playoffs. The 67’s continued to push and Evan de Haan scored another early goal in the third period to regain their lead. A knack for the team, the 67’s have scored 7 goals in the first 3 minutes to open a period during this series.

Trailing 3-2 late in the third period, Herbst was called upon often to make a big save. It wasn’t until the last 3 minutes that the IceDogs were able to beat him again. Graham Knott picked up his first of the playoffs on a fluke goal that trickled down from the top of the net forcing overtime for the first time in this series.

Hyped for the entire game, the 67’s came out strong and forced Brandon Hope to make a couple huge saves early in the extra frame. Hope caught a big break after a quick whistle left a puck loose in the crease. Then Brendan Perlini scored a heartbreaking wrap around goal to win the game.

“Great players make great plays he’s been really good all playoffs. What a play. Just had his head up and shot where (Herbst went down),” Brown told TSN1200.

Home ice has proven to be a factor so far this series with the home team winning all four games in this best-of-seven Eastern Conference Quarterfinal. The series shifts back to Ottawa on Friday night where the 67’s will look to regain control of this series.

“A lot of good things (happened) tonight. We proved that we can come in here and win,” said Brown.

“We battled for games 1, 2, and 4. We we’re really good. We just got to stay positive,” Brown continued. “This one is going to sting and it should. But at the same time after the fact, we should be able to look back and draw some strength from it, draw some confidence from it. “

Official game sheet here.

By the numbers...

Face-Off Stats
(Compiled by Alex Quevillon)

Ottawa