67’s close out weekend with convincing win over Bulldogs
The Ottawa 67’s picked up their second-straight win Sunday afternoon, downing the Hamilton Bulldogs 4-1 to earn two crucial points in the battle for home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
The win moved the 67’s, at least temporarily, into fourth spot in the OHL’s Eastern Conference, with Niagara also in action early Sunday evening. The Barber Poles have four games left in the regular season after Sunday’s win, two of them at home.
Captain Jake Middleton led the charge for the 67’s in this one with a pair of assists, including a helper on Nathan Todd’s 15th of the year to open the scoring in the first period in Hamilton.
Middleton, who now has five assists in his last two games, also set up the eventual winner midway through the second, teeing up Artur Tyanulin, who beat Bulldogs’ goalie Kaden Fulcher for his 13 of the year. Tyanulin also assisted on Todd’s goal.
Travis Barron extended the 67’s lead just over a minute after Tyanulin scored to give the second-year Ottawa forward three goals in his past three games. Dante Salituro scored into an empty net with 14 seconds to go to pick up his team-leading 34th of the year.
Niki Petti spoiled Leo Lazarev’s shutout bid late in the second but the 67’s goalie was perfect from there, finishing with 18 stops.
The 67’s will continue their battle to claim home ice advantage in the first round of the OHL playoffs next Saturday in Kingston closing out their five-game road trip before returning home to host the Barrie Colts on March 16 at the Arena at TD Place.
Youth hockey players in the Ottawa-Gatineau region can obtain free tickets to any 67’s regular-season home game through the 67’s Prospects program. Visit the 67’s Prospects website for details, or call 613-232-6767, ext. 1.
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GAME SUMMARY – CLICK HERE
Ottawa 67’s 4, Hamilton Bulldogs 1 (First Ontario Centre)
67’s goals: Nathan Todd (15), Artur Tyanulin (13), Travis Barron (13), Dante Salituro (34)
Storm goals: Niki Petti (22)
Goaltenders: 67’s: Leo Lazarev (W, 24-16-1-0, 19 shots, 18 saves) | Bulldogs: Kaden Fulcher (L, 4-9-0-0, 29 shots 26 saves)
Power Play: 67’s: 0/3 | Storm: 0/1
Shots on goal: 67’s: 29 | Storm: 19
Upcoming 67’s games: March 12 at Kingston, Rogers K-Rock Centre, 7:00 p.m.; March 16 vs Barrie, Arena at TD Place, 7:00 p.m.; March 18 vs Hamilton, Arena at TD Place, 7:00 p.m.
Ottawa record: 32-29-2-1
Ottawa record at home: 16-15-0-1
Ottawa record on road: 16-14-2-0
