67's close out 2015 with a 6-4 loss to the Otters

The Ottawa 67’s were in Pennsylvania tonight hoping to close out 2015 on a high note but it was the Erie Otters that had other plans. Kyle Pettit (Vancouver Canucks) scored a pair of goals to lead his team to a 6-4 win over the visiting 67’s.

Facing a 3-1 deficit after the first period, the 67’s put on their hard hats and went to work. Dante Salituro and Nevin Guy scored 5 minutes apart to the game at 3. Unfortunately, Christian Girhiny regained the Otters lead with a late second period goal.

The Otters added two more goals in the third period including an empty netter more than two minutes left in the game. 67’s head coach Jeff Brown pulled Leo Lazarev for the extra attacker for the second time moments later and it panned out. Rookie Connor Warnholtz scored his first career OHL to get the 67’s within one. Despite the effort, the 67’s were unable to clawback to force overtime.

Warnholtz was 1 of 4 rookies on the ice in the final minutes of a close game, it’s a telling fact that Brown was not pleased with the performance of his older players and had more trust with the younger guys. With the trade deadline looming, these performances could continue to affect his decisions on potential trades.

The 6-4 loss to Erie gives the 67’s their 8^th loss in 10 games. The 67’s are idle until the New Year.  They won’t have a chance to redeem themselves until January 2^nd when the kick off their 2016 campaign in St. Catharines to face the arch rival Niagara Ice Dogs.

Game summary here.