Ottawa 67s Fan Report: 5-1 Deficits Not To Be Broken; 67's Lose 6-3 to North Bay

For the second night in a row, a junior team with a shaky Russian netminder starting in net couldn’t quite overcome a 5-1 deficit.

Although Leo Lazarev wasn’t to blame for a team that didn’t show up for the first 40 minutes, he was pulled after allowing four goals on 13 shots en route to a 6-3 loss.

"That was ugly, we had our worst period of the year," said Jeff Brown on the opening 20. "There’s no excuses, that’s as bad as we have played all year. It’s like we were expecting a trade to happen. It reflects on me and I take it personally."

Down 5-0 with a number of powerplay opportunities by the wayside, Sam Studnicka broke the shutout with a shorthanded breakaway tally.

With Marcus Semiao in for relief, Dante Salituro and Brendan Bell added two more in the third, but it was too little too late.

If the 67’s didn’t get a good enough look at Ryan Kujawinski in his time with nearby Kingston, they did early when he scored the second of three first period markers, his first as a member of the Battalion.

Jake Smith had a relatively light workload, making 19 stops for the visitors who appear to be in an arms race with Oshawa to be part of the top two in the East.

"I don't want to take anything away from North Bay," added Brown. "They're well-coached and they're going to be a contender."

"Unless you're committed, you aren't beating these top teams."

Perhaps a pair of struggling opponents by way of Peterborough and Windsor this coming weekend can get the 67’s back on track.

Game sheet here.

Three Stars as Selected by TSN1200

Hardest Working 67's: Sam Studnicka