67's fall 5-4 to the Petes in season opener

Fresh off a training camp stint with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, Travis Konecny came back to the Ottawa 67’s on fire. Konecny scored a pair of goals for the 67’s but it wasn’t enough as they lost 5-4 to the Peterborough Petes in regulation.


Losing the season opener is never the result a team is looking for but neither is allowing a goal only 10 seconds into a game. Sabres’ prospect Eric Cornel forced a turnover along the halfboards, grabbed the loose puck and fed it to Canes’ prospect Steven Lorentz in front of the net. Lorentz batted the puck out of midair and behind Liam Herbst for the early lead.

The 67’s would tighten up defensively and it was end to end action throughout the remaining period. Tieing the game with only 14 seconds left in the opening frame, Adam Craievich skated in off the faceoff, made a quick shot and got his own rebound reacting quickly and shooting through the fivehole on  Matthew Mancina.

Travis Konecny and Greg Betzold would exchange second period goals and the teams found themselves tied after 40 minutes of play.

No one was able get a puck past the goaltenders until a deflected a puck took a weird bounce in front of Liam Herbst. Jonathan Ang made no mistake and scored to give the Petes their second lead of the game midway through the third.

The third period proved to be undisciplined for both teams. Only 2 minors were called in the first 2 periods, but the third saw 8 total – 4 minors aside.  The 67’s had a great opportunity to tie the game with Logan DeNoble in the box for a highstick, but instead it was the Petes who capitalized.

After leaving his net to play the puck, Herbst failed to clear it and turned the puck right over to Eddie Shulz. Shulz notched his first career OHL goal.

It was back and forth for the remainder of the game. The 67’s quickly responded with a milestone goal of their own, Noel Hoefenmayer got the 67’s back within 1 off a quick shot from the point.

Less than two minutes later Matt Spencer regained the Petes 2-goal lead, but it was soon erased as Konecny scored his second goal with only 20 seconds left in the game to get within 1 goal again. It proved to be all too late as the 67’s could not complete comeback and fell 5-4 in regulation.

The 67’s travel to Mississauga tomorrow and returning home on Sunday to host the Barrie Colts in the home opener.

Game summary here.