67's Double Up Petes 6-3

With the help of a 48-save performance from Clint Windsor, the Ottawa 67’s were able to defeat the Peterborough Petes for the second time in just over two weeks by a score of 6-3, once again sending their divisional rival into last place.

Poor driving conditions caused the 67’s to arrive in Peterborough just an hour before puck drop, and although the team looked sluggish in the opening minutes, they would score six consecutive goals before going into a defencive shell.

Brett Findlay got Peterborough on the board first, but Steven Janes answered less than a minute later to tie the game.  Taylor Fielding and Ryan Van Stralen tallied before the end of the first period to give Ottawa a 3-1 advantage.

The visitors chased Peterborough starter Michael Giugovaz just 36 seconds into the middle frame as Cody Ceci scored on the powerplay.  The goaltending change didn’t help, as Brendan Bell extended the lead less than a minute later.

With the game becoming out of reach, Petes tough guy Derek Mathers threw a high hit on Matthieu Desautels, and Van Stralen came in to the defence of his teammate.  In the third period, Van Stralen was back to work, adding his second of the night to stretch the lead to 6-1.

Findlay scored again for Peterborough and Steven Trojanovic made it a game, but Ottawa managed to shut Peterborough down for the last five minutes to hold on for the win.

Giugovaz only made seven saves, while Andrew D'Agostini made 13 stops in relief.

The 67’s will now try to make up ground in the Eastern Conference as they start a home-and-home at Scotiabank Place on New Year’s Eve with the seventh-place Kingston Frontenacs.

Game sheet can be found here.

Assorted Notes:

• Desautels was shaken up by Mathers’ hit to the head, but stayed in the game and was awarded the Team 1200’s Hardest Worker.
• The Petes were the better team for long stretches, but the 67’s were better at converting their chances.  Ottawa was obviously suffering from bus legs having spent over four hours to get to Peterborough, and at times seemed willing to collapse to the net and let Peterborough take shots from the perimeter.
• This was arguably Ceci’s best game in the last two months with two points and a +3 +/- rating.  Michal Cajkovsky, his defencive partner, was also a +3.