Photo credit: Greg Kolz
With two wins this past week, Ottawa passed the 100-point threshold and sits four points ahead of the West-leading London Knight for first place in the OHL heading into the final weekend of the season.
The home-and-home with the Oshawa Generals began on Saturday afternoon in Ottawa. The 67’s started strong, but eventually fell 3-2.
The opening period was scoreless but filled with exciting back-and-forth play. Oshawa goaltender Aidan Hughes robbed a wide-open Quinn Yule shot from point blank range with an impressive glove save.
Ottawa opened it up with two goals from Lucas Chiodo and Graeme Clark in the early portions of the second period. Chiodo tucked in a wrap-around attempt past the outstretched glove of Hughes and Clarke flew down the wing and tapped in the goal off a perfect pass from Noel Hoefenmayer.
The Generals struck twice before the end of the second period however to tie-up the game. Both goals took strange bounces past goaltender Michael DiPietro, who seemed surprised when both trickled past him.
Oshawa scored again with the lone goal of the third period to claim the close contest with a one-timer from the right side of the offensive zone.
It was the third time this season that the Generals have beaten the 67’s. Despite the defeat, Ottawa outshot their opponents by 18.
“We played well enough for half of the game,” said 67’s head coach Andre Tourigny after the game. “They’re a very good team and showed a lot of resilience in the second half of the season and proved it again today. We had our chances but we need to grind a bit more.”
The game saw the largest home crowd for the 67’s this season, with nearly 6,000 fans in attendance.
Ottawa got revenge against Oshawa on Sunday night 4-0, where the top line of the 67’s went to work early and often. Tye Felhaber, Kody Clark and Marco Rossi combined for all four goals and finished with a total of 10 points between them.
Felhaber’s and Clark’s goals came in the first period and built a lead early. Then Rossi found the net on the power play in the second and Felhaber scored again late in the third period. DiPietro recorded yet another shutout, his fourth of the season. The 67’s outshot the Generals by 20.
Friday night in Kingston, the 67’s started their weekend slate by dominating the Frontenacs 5-0.
A hot start helped lead the 67’s to victory. They scored three goals in the opening period alone, courtesy of Quinn Yule, Graeme Clarke and Sam Bitten.
Clarke’s goal was one of the most astounding of the OHL season. A lacrosse-style tuck from behind the net that was featured on both TSN and CBC during their Saturday night highlight packages.
Graeme Clarke are you KIDDING me.
NHL Draft prospect scores a beautiful lacrosse-style goal vs Kingston.@Ottawa67sHockey #OHL #2019NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/GkVzbFPoSi
— caitlin berry (@caitlinsports) March 9, 2019
It is the second time Clarke has scored on the same miraculous move. He did so earlier this season against Peterborough.
Austen Keating and Cameron Tolnai added to the score with goals of their own in the second. The two teams went a combined 0/8 on the power play. Overall, Ottawa had a tough time last week on the man advantage. Over the three games, they went a combined 1/14.
As they often do, the 67’s outshot their opponents handily. This time, 30-19. In between the pipes, goaltender Cedrick Andree notched the 19-save shutout.
The 67’s will finish the regular season this week. They will take on the Petes in Peterborough on Thursday and then in Ottawa on Friday, before battling the Kingston Frontenacs at home on Sunday.