Two goals from Pinelli power 67’s past Troops
Four games into the 2023-24 season, Ottawa 67’s forward Luca Pinelli is proving beyond any doubt that Head Coach Dave Cameron’s decision to name him captain was the correct one.
The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect scored a pair of goals, Thursday night, as the Barber Poles picked up a 4-2 win over the North Bay Battalion: their first road win of the season. With the impressive performance, including the eventual game-winner, Pinelli now leads the 67’s with four goals in as many games, helping his club improve to a record of 2-2-0 on the season.
Though the captain may have stolen the show, it was a full-team effort for the 67’s to earn their second victory of the campaign. Tuomas Uronen opened the scoring late in the first period, with his first OHL goal, and Jack Dever’s third of the season iced it with an empty-netter. Collin MacKenzie made 23 saves between the pipes, earning his first win on the year.
North Bay pressed the 67’s within the first ten minutes, but MacKenzie stood tall, as the road side found their footing in the back half of the opening frame. Despite numerous chances, it was Uronen coming through with a minute to play, scoring what’s sure to be the first of many in his OHL career. Kaleb Lawrence fed Bradley Horner at the Battalion blue line, and though the defender’s shot was stopped, Uronen was parked to goaltender Dom DiVincentiis’ right to bang home the rebound, and the Vegas Golden Knights prospect opened his account on the season.
The Battalion knotted things up early in the second, when a lapse in defensive zone coverage left Lirim Amidovski all alone in the slot, and he made no mistake to tie the score, 3:42 in.
It took less than two minutes, however, for Pinelli to grab hold of the game. Hard work by Will Gerrior down low in the North Bay zone saw him come away with the puck, and find the captain at the lip of the crease, where Pinelli put his third of the year up high on DiVincentiis to restore the lead.
The game saw no more scoring until the opening minutes of the third period, despite quality chances from both sides. After Pinelli drew a high-sticking call to put Ottawa on a five-on-three powerplay, and the 67’s used their timeout to let Assistant Coach Norm Milley draw things up, the winning marker was found off the ensuing faceoff. Dallas Stars pick Brad Gardiner made a nice play to hit Henry Mews at the blue line, and the top 2024 NHL Draft prospect walked to the mid-lane, before sliding the puck back to Pinelli, who had all kinds of time to rifle home his second of the night.
Tnias Mathurin drew North Bay back within one on a screened point shot with 9:01 to play, but Dever erased any hopes of a comeback, scoring the empty-net goal with 52 seconds remaining.
The 67’s will look to win consecutive games for the first time this season, tomorrow night, visiting the Soo Greyhounds at 7:07pm ET.
GAME NOTES:
- Kaleb Lawrence’s assist was his first point with the 67’s, in his third game since being acquired from the Owen Sound Attack.
- This was the third multi-goal game of Luca Pinelli’s OHL career.
- Ottawa outshot North Bay 32-25.
- Jack Dever’s third goal of the season sets a new career high.
