67’s keep rolling
Everyone knows the importance of a trainer on a junior hockey team, and Job One for the Ottawa 67’s Neil Hoch every Tuesday is to check the Canadian Hockey League website for the new top 10 rankings.
So far this season, all Hoch has had to say is, “Nope … not this week.”
This Tuesday, however, things should be different for the Ontario Hockey League’s hottest team.
The 67’s, who rated only “honourable mention” a week ago, posted their 10th victory in the past 12 games, rolling over the Belleville Bulls 5-1 before a crowd of 5,451 at the Rona Centre on Sunday.
Ryan Martindale scored twice and added two assists, while Shane Prince chipped in with a goal and three assists and the third member of their line, Tyler Toffoli, added two assists to help the 67’s (22-9-1) extend their lead over the Oshawa Generals (17-8-5) for first place in the East Division to six points.
“We don’t care that we haven’t been ranked,” 67’s captain Thomas Nesbitt said. “At the same time, it’s nice to be recognized.”
There’s just no denying a team with 18 wins in the past 25 games or, better yet, 11 victories in the past 13.
The 67’s are doing all the little things right. Like Nesbitt going after Bulls captain Luke Judson, who had checked 67’s defenceman Marc Zanetti into the boards hard in the third period with the game long decided.
Martindale pretty much sealed the victory himself in the first period, scoring two goals in the first 9:39, his 18th and 19th of the season.
He now has 44 points. Prince is tops in the league with 54, while Toffoli is No. 3 with 51, including a league-leading 27 goals.
“We set our goals, and the first goal was to win the division,” Martindale said.
” It’s not about the personal stuff,” Martindale said.
“The chemistry we have in that ( dressing) room is really kicking in. That chemistry just carries out onto the ice.”
The 67’s are doing it by beating the teams they must. They are 11-3-1 against teams in the East Division.
One of these games, 67’s netminder Petr Mrazek will finally record a shutout, too.
Mrazek turned aside another 26 Bulls shots to cut his goals-against average to 2.72 and increase his save percentage to .923, second best in the OHL.
Sunday’s game also marked the seventh time Mrazek had allowed just a single goal over 60 minutes and the 12th time in 25 starts he had given up two goals or less.
The lone Bull to beat him was famous grandson Andy Bathgate, whose 15th goal of the season cut the 67’s lead to 3-1 late in the first period.
Julian Luciani had given the 67’s that cushion with his second goal in 12 games since being acquired from Belleville.
“Our 10 goals are up on a board in the room, and the only one we’re not achieving is shots on goal,” 67’s coach Chris Byrne said. “Other than that, we’re in the ballpark on everything else.”
Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/keep+rolling/3967411/story.html#ixzz186VDkifZ
