67s fall 5-3 to IceDogs in game 2

The 67’s will return to Ottawa down two games in the first round after a 5-3 loss in Niagara Saturday night.

The Barberpoles looked to be off to a strong start, taking a 2-0 lead into the first intermission, and allowing only one goal in the second period, heading into the third with a 2-1 lead.

But just 33 seconds into the final frame, Pavel Jenys beat Leo Lazarev to tie the game and put the pressure on Ottawa.

The 67’s regained the lead less than two minutes later when Nevin Guy beat IceDogs’ goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic on a one time shot on the powerplay.

But the second lead was short-lived when just a minute later, 3:23 into the third, Christopher Paquette made it 3-3 with the help of Ryan Mantha and Aleksandar Mikulovich. 

Josh Ho-Sang gave the IceDogs their first lead of the game with about eight and half minutes remaining in the third.  The breakaway goal would go on to be the game-winner, earning Ho-Sang first star.

The 67’s pulled Lazarev for an extra attacker late in the third but were unable to beat Nedeljkovic. Niagara forward Brendan Perlini scored on the empty net to extend Niagara’s lead to by two goals.

Perlini’s late goal was his second of the game. He also opened scoring for the IceDogs in the second period, slashing the 67’s lead in half.

Dante Salituro’s first-period goal, a 4-on-2 setup with the help of Stepan Falkovsky to open scoring midway through the first, marked the 67’s first playoff lead since 18:07 of game 5 in last year’s first round series.

Travis Barron scored the second goal for Ottawa, a deflection off a Falkovsky shot 11:27 into the first.

Scratches Jeremiah Addison and Adam Craievich are both still listed as ‘day-to-day’.

The first-round series will make its debut in Ottawa on Monday, as the 67’s take on the IceDogs in game three, at 3pm at TD Place Arena. If the 67’s don’t manage a win on home ice Monday, they will face elimination in Wednesday’s game four.