67’s Earn a Point, Secure Seventh Spot in Season Finale
The Ottawa 67’s picked up their third point in two nights, Saturday, pushing the Kingston Frontenacs to a shootout in a narrow 2-1 defeat.
Jack Beck got the Barber Poles on the board with a shorthanded marker, but Kingston tied it before the end of the middle frame, and notched the only goal of the skills competition to earn the victory.
By securing a point, the 67’s locked up seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings, and a first-round date with the North Bay Battalion in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs.
After a scoreless first frame, Ottawa found themselves on the penalty kill, but used the opportunity to take the fight to Kingston. Derek Smyth made a tremendous play in the defensive zone to break up a Kingston chance, and start the rush up ice. He got the puck to Vinzenz Rohrer, who fed Beck at the far post, and his 22nd of the season made it 1-0 in favour of the 67’s.
Not wanting to fall to Ottawa on back-to-back nights, however, Kingston tied it at the 14:28 mark of the second, thanks to Paul Ludwinski, and a scoreless third yielded extra hockey. Ottawa had some great chances in overtime, but couldn’t convert, and Lucas Edmonds scored the only goal of the shootout to give Kingston the win.
Game Notes:
- Vinzenz Rohrer finishes the season with a team-high 48 points.
- Jack Beck has scored three goals in his last two games.
- Three of Derek Smyth’s seven points on the season have come in the last eight games.
- Ottawa split six games with the Battalion, this season.
Up Next: The 67’s head to North Bay for Game 1 of the OHL playoffs, with the date to be announced.
