67's fall 3-2 to Steelheads in third loss in as many days

The Ottawa 67’s wrapped up a tough weekend with their third loss in two and a half days on Sunday.

The Barberpoles fell 3-2 to the Mississauga Steelheads, despite registering 38 shots on Mississauga goaltender Cameron Zanussi, the game’s third star.

Steelheads’ Bryson Cianfrone’s two assists earned him second star, and Thomas Lattavo was awarded first for his game-winning goal.

Despite the loss, Travis Konecny was a force to be reckoned with, assisting on the 67’s first goal and scoring the second, his 29^th of the season, on a wraparound in the second period.

The Ottawa captain left the ice midway through the third period after a hit by Steelheads’ Brandon Devlin left him falling awkwardly into the boards. Konecny left the ice unassisted, but did not return. No word yet on his injury.

The Steelheads took the lead just 6:05 into the game when Stefan LeBlanc blasted a shot over Leo Lazarev’s blocker.

The 67’s managed to tie it up about three and a half minutes later on a quick wrist shot by Brendan Bell.

Ottawa’s Zack Pittman took a cross-checking penalty with 7:54 left in the first. It took the Steelheads just 29 seconds on the powerplay to regain the lead on a goal by Devlin.

Konecny’s goal 12:12 into the second period tied the score 2-2. It stayed that way until Lavatto’s game-winning goal with just 4:14 left in the game.

Ottawa head coach Jeff Brown pulled Lazarev late in the game for the extra attacker, a move not noticed right away by officials who called the 67’s for too many men on the ice when the sixth player was noticed.

After some discussion and a heated conversation with Brown, the officials called back the penalty. But it was too little too late for the 67’s.

They wrap up a three-game weekend having been outscored 17 to 10.

The 67’s, who sit in fourth in the Eastern Conference, will play the first place Oshawa Generals next Friday, March 13 in Ottawa at TD Stadium, one of just five games remaining in the regular season.