67’s back at home to kick off 2018
The Ottawa 67’s will kick off the 2018 portion of their schedule this weekend, ringing in the New Year with a two-game home stand against Peterborough and Windsor.
After a bit of a tough end to 2017, the 67’s are keen to get back on track right off the bat and they will have a few new faces in the lineup to help them to that. Just after the Christmas break, the 67’s swung a deal that brought veteran forwards Jacob Cascagnette and Shaw Boomhower, along with Ottawa native Merrick Rippon, to Ottawa in exchange for Matt Foget and three draft picks. All three players are expected to make their 67’s debuts this weekend.
Though they’ve come out on the wrong end of things in their last four games, the 67’s remain in the thick of the Eastern Conference fight for playoff positioning. Sitting in seventh, Ottawa is only two points behind Peterborough in sixth and just five points out of fifth spot. So the four points up for grabs on home ice this weekend are crucial.
THE OPPOSITION
Peterborough Petes (16-19-2-1)
The Petes produced a strong comeback to defeat the 67’s the last time the two met to bust out of a six-game losing skid but have lost the two games they have played since. The Barber Poles will be keen to avenge that narrow loss. In the last five games, the Petes now have a better head-to-head record with three wins in their favour. The 67’s could pull even with Peterborough in the East with a win on Saturday.
Windsor Spitfires (19-13-2-1)
This will be the first meeting between these two teams this season. The Spitfires are riding a two-game losing skid. The 67’s will have to get past the Spitfires goaltender Michael DiPietro who has the second-best save percentage (0.920) in the OHL. The 67’s will also have to wary of conceding penalties because with 26 powerplay goals this season, the Spitfires sit third in the league with the man advantage.
GAME NOTES
- Austen Keating has notched points in two consecutive games.
- Tye Felhaber has scored four goals in the last two games.
- Sasha Chmelevski needs two more goals to hit 50 in his OHL career.
- With a penalty kill percentage of 80.6, the 67’s are ninth in the OHL.
HOW TO TUNE IN
Saturday, January 6 vs Peterborough Petes – 2:00PM
TV: Rogers TV | Online: OHL Live
Radio: TSN 1200 | TSN1200.ca
Sunday, January 7 vs Windsor Spitfires – 2:00PM
TV: Rogers TV | Online: OHL Live
Radio: TSN 1200 | TSN1200.ca
