67's win streak ends at 7 games with 5-3 loss to the Gens

A hard fought game ended with a heart breaking loss as the 67’s skated to a 5-3 loss to the Oshawa Generals this afternoon.

With a 7-game win streak on the line, the Ottawa 67’s had a tough task on their hands taking the top ranked team in the CHL. The Oshawa Generals were coming off an emotional 5-4 loss to the Kingston Frontenacs, the other division rival, last night.


Both teams had a lot to play for this afternoon. One point would clinch a playoff position for the 67’s and two points would clinch the Eastern Division for the Gens.

The game didn’t kick off on the best start for either team with sloppy plays on both sides. Most detrimental was an Evan de Haan turnover in the neutral zone which led to a 2-on-1 break. Cole Cassels and Michael Dal Colle converted on the play to give the Gens the first lead of the game.

The 67’s did not hold back. Just 45 seconds later, Nathan Todd tied the game at 1 on the power play. That was the 67’s 5^th powerplay goal on their last 7 opportunities – a part of their game that had struggled prior to this weekend.

A couple sloppy plays continued and the Gens were suddenly up by two goals going into the first intermission. Manotick native, Will Petschenig regained the Gens lead and Cassels notched his 24^th goal of the season with just 9 seconds remaining in the opening frame.

The 67’s powerplay continued to roll into the second period as Todd’s one timer found the back of the net for his second goal and powerplay goal of the game.

Crawling back from a first period 3-1 deficit, Adam Craievich’s first goal as a 67 proved to be an important one. He scored with 5 minutes remaining in the second to tie the game up at 1.

End to end action continued with several big scoring opportunities being created at both ends of the ice through the second and into the third period. Both goaltenders gained more confidence as the game went on.

It wasn’t until the final 4 minutes that either team would take the next lead. Bradley Latour scored his first goal in 4 games to give the Gens the big 4-3 lead after the puck just trickled past Herbst who had been hot in the last 30+ minutes.

The Gens would round out the scoring with a Cole Cassels empty net goal sending the Gens to a 5-3 division clinching win.

Despite the loss, the 67's clinched a playoff spot today with the help from the Guelph Storm who beat the Mississauga Steelheads this afternoon. More good news for Ottawa is that the IceDogs won against North Bay and allows Ottawa to keep sole possession on the 3rd spot in tr Eastern Conference.

The 67’s are back on the road Thursday night in Windsor where they kick off a western road swing.

Game summary here.