The 67’s now path the North Bay Battalion by two factors within the race for the ultimate playoff spot within the Ontario Hockey League’s Japanese Convention.
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Luca Pinelli has scored 123 targets in his 239 video games with the Ottawa 67’s, however possible none any prettier than his first-period marker Saturday towards the Peterborough Petes at TD Place.
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Slicing by the slot, Pinelli let the puck slip behind him between his legs, then adopted it along with his stick earlier than flipping a shot over Petes goalie Zach Bowen to provide the house group a 1-0 lead.
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Had it been an NHL sport, it very effectively is likely to be the TSN spotlight of the night time.
“I don’t know,” the 67’s captain stated later when pressed for his opinion on the inventive worth of his thirty second aim in 45 video games this season. “I believed it was a fairly cool aim, I assume, however we didn’t come out with a win, so …”
No, they didn’t. And for the 67’s, a victory was of utmost significance, particularly after they had been crushed with six seconds left in regulation time on Thursday night time in Peterborough.
Not less than the second of two 4-3 losses in 48 hours to the last-place Petes gave the 67’s a single level because it got here within the shootout following a scoreless five-minute extra time interval.
It additionally amplifies the importance of Sunday afternoon’s sport in North Bay.
The 67’s now path the Battalion by two factors within the race for the ultimate playoff spot within the Ontario Hockey League’s Japanese Convention.
Each groups have seven video games remaining, and North Bay has a stranglehold on the tie-breaker with 24 wins to Ottawa’s 21.
Every has a troublesome schedule down the stretch.
Ottawa has a 3-2 document towards the Battalion this season and is 1-1 in video games performed in North Bay, each of which had been determined by a aim.
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“I believed we performed effectively sufficient to win,” 67’s coach Dave Cameron stated after his group outshot the Petes 37-25 in entrance of 4,481 followers on Saturday. “Individuals are uninterested in listening to and I’m uninterested in saying it, however we don’t rating straightforward.”
The happiest participant within the constructing was in all probability Brady Stonehouse, an overager the 67’s traded to the Petes earlier this season.
His power-play aim with 6:31 left within the third interval — a one-timer off the bar and in — despatched the sport to OT.
It got here with an overager the 67’s stored, Will Gerrior, sitting within the penalty field.
Stonehouse celebrated the aim enthusiastically, then appeared to glare on the 67’s bench as he skated to the Petes’.
Earlier within the sport, Stonehouse caught 67’s rookie Filip Ekberg with a success that left the 17-year-old Swede sprawled facedown on the ice for a few minute.
Ekberg, who missed a few shifts, however did return to his typical spot as a winger on the highest line with Pinelli and Cooper Foster, has been a vibrant mild on this dim 67’s season.
He has 14 targets and 18 assists for 32 factors in 45 video games and has been particularly proficient of late, with factors (12) in 9 of his previous 11 video games.
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It was additionally a giant day for Ryan White, the son of former NHLer (and Ottawa Senator) Todd White.
The 5-9, 154-pound defenceman was taking part in his first OHL sport with the 67’s, and, whereas he was used sparingly and didn’t see a shift within the third interval, White didn’t look misplaced when he was on the ice.
He had three of the group’s photographs on aim and jumped up into the play for a scoring likelihood on an early shift.
“I didn’t see sufficient of him,” Cameron stated when requested for an evaluation on White, a ninth-round draft decide of the 67’s in 2023 who’s dedicated to Windfall School subsequent season. “He sort of comes as marketed along with his mobility, a first-pass man.”
Stated White: “Clearly, taking part in your first sport in any league is fairly particular. It comes with somewhat little bit of nerves, however you’ve simply received to channel it and play with confidence and benefit from the second.”
White would be the lineup once more Sunday, not less than partly as a result of the 67’s roster continues to be depleted by accidents.
With sure callups maxed out when it comes to their eligibility, it seems Ottawa could have 15 skaters (9 forwards, six defenceman) for its largest sport of the season.
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The group as a complete might even have some fatigue points.
To get to their third sport in 4 days, the 67’s hopped on the bus instantly following the battle with the Petes for a four-hour journey that was anticipated to get them to North Bay about 11 p.m. Saturday.
With clocks going ahead by an hour, they’ll should relaxation quick for the two p.m. begin on Sunday.
The Battalion didn’t play Saturday.
“It’s sport No. 62, proper? Nothing adjustments,” Cameron stated. “You understand how you’re taking part in now. When it comes to preparation, all they’re doing now’s hydrating and getting their power up. We’re not the one group to do that. It’s simply a part of the routine.”
The one distinction is the stakes.
The 67’s season is on the road now.
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