Keating more than a placeholder, puts up two points in loss

Austen Keating played tonight's game in St. Catharines like it would be his last on the top line.
A couple of hours ago, it looked as though his time on the number one unit was coming to a close.

But with heavy rumours swirling that Travis Konecny could be dealt to Kitchener on Tuesday when the trade freeze lifts, Ottawa's top rookie could have the inside track to stay up.

But as this potential trade signifies, there's a lot of work to be done.

The 67's, with a chance to jump two spots in the Eastern Conference standings and a 3-0 lead, couldn't get the job done.

It wasn't for a lack of output from their top pick in last spring's draft.

Keating set up Dante Salituro to open the scoring, before depositing a powerplay tally to give the visitors a 2-0 advantage.

Ottawa carried a 3-0 advantage through 28 minutes of play before the wheels fell off.

At 3-1, Jordan Maletta scored twice in just over two minutes to send the Barberpoles spiraling, before rookie blueliner scored his first career goal to sink them.

Whether or not the rumoured deal goes down, something still has to give not only with the four overagers, but with the three goalies.

Liam Herbst and Nathan Todd have been the odd men out more often that not of late, and while Herbst started tonight, turning aside 23 of 27 shots, it's possible he's on showcase to the rest of the league.

Ottawa tries to stop the bleeding tomorrow in Mississauga.