Another Home Ice Shut Out for the 67's: 6-0 Over Peterborough

After a few close games between these two teams that included a last second game-winning buzzer-beater by Thomas Nesbitt, the Ottawa 67's broke out the goals for a decisive shut-out win in the second half of this home and home series with the Peterborough Petes. Ottawa won 4-3 in Peterborough on Thursday in a game where Ottawa had to fight back twice from one-goal deficits.

Click here for the game sheet.

Just over 6 minutes into the second period Thomas Nesbitt finally got one past Bryce O'Hagan who had made some big saves on the previous 21 shots from the 67's. Ben Dubois and Shane Prince assisted on the PPG which would stand as the game winning goal. Nice start for new-comer Ben Dubois.

And less than a minute later, Dalton Smith, who we haven't heard from too much lately, scored a SHG on rebound from Marc Anthony Zanetti to put Ottawa up by two.

At this point, Ottawa took over the game as the Peteborough Petes started feeling the effects of two games in two days and playing with a very short bench (only 16 skaters). Before the second frame was done, Ben Dubois scored his first goal as a 67's and Tyler Toffoli kept his point streak alive with his 35th goal of the season to make it a 4 - 0 game.

Tyler Graovac scored his 7th goal of the season during Peterborough's 5 penalty of the game when he wristed it over O'Hagan's shoulder.

The top line wrapped it up at the mid-way point of the third when Ryan Martindale's backhand from the top of the crease got through O'Hagan and dribbled over the goal line for Martindale's 24th of the year. Linemates Prince and Toffoli with the assists.

The fans in Section 6 (I think) received their Subway sub cards for Ottawa scoring 6 goals and the 67's went on to help Mrazek get his second shut out (both coming in the last two Ottawa home games). Mrazek has gone a full 120 minutes without having a goal scored on him at the Rona Centre.

The team now prepares for the return match against Ben Dubois's former team, the Owen Sound Attack. When these teams met on New Year's Day, the Attack came from behind to beat the 67's. The 67's will be looking to correct that outcome on Sunday.

Hope we see you at the game.

Three Stars as selected by the Team1200

Hardest Working 67's as selected by the Team1200: Tyler Toffoli who was also named the OHL player of the month for December
Random Thoughts:

• Tyler Toffoli kept his league leading scoring 22-game streak going with his goal and assist. Tyler has scored 49 points (24G - 25A). Shane Prince is right behind him with a streak of 18 games where he notched 12G and 25 A although his streak was broken in Peterborough on Thursday.
  
• Tyler Toffoli and Petr Mrazek were named as OHL top performers for the month of December. Click here for the OHL announcement.
  
• With Jon Carnevale, Steven Janes and Cosimo Fontana still out with injuries, Ottawa iced 11 forwards. Martindale, Toffoli and Prince shared double-shift duties to form a line with Foglia and Fielding. I can't recall the last time the 67's have had a healthy scratch. Can't be anyone complaining about not getting chances to play. Rookies saw more ice time in different situations in the third period.
  
• Toffoli had a couple of break-aways and Cody Lindsay had one too. No goals on any of them.
  
• You may have missed it but the Ottawa 67's helmets are sporting white chin straps in a nod to old-style hockey. The players are pretty pumped about this uniform upgrade.
  
• Not sure if there were problems with the ice. Lots of players losing their footing and fumbling with the puck.
  

More Pictures: Sean Monahan was the leading scorer for the Gold Medal Team Ontario in the U-17 tournament Petr Mrazek was named the Vaughn OHL Goalie for the month of December Amazing goal-mouth save by O'Hagan in the first period Click here to see more pictures from the game.