67’s enter holidays with 3-2 win over Frontenacs
Perhaps saving their best effort for last in a tough weekend, the Ottawa 67’s ended their pre-holiday break schedule with a 3-2 road win over the Kingston Frontenacs, Sunday afternoon.
Despite having to kill off six penalties, and only receiving a pair of powerplays, Luca Pinelli, and Cam Tolnai found the twine, before Brady Stonehouse scored the gamewinner with 5:41 to play. In his first start since December 4, Collin MacKenzie made 28 saves, to pick up his seventh win of the year.
Kingston took the lead on a powerplay goal by Josh Currie, 8:18 in, but it would take less than three minutes for the 67’s to respond. Caden Kelly streaked into the Frontenacs zone, and danced around the defender with a beautiful move. Kelly moved the puck across to Henry Mews, who made a gorgeous backhand pass to Pinelli in front, and the 2023 NHL Draft prospect had all day to bury his 14th of the year, knotting the score up at 1-1.
At the 17:12 mark of the frame, Stonehouse got the puck to Frankie Marrelli at the point, who went D-to-D to Mews, and his shot was deflected home by Tolnai, to give the 67’s a 2-1 lead going into the second.
Christopher Thibodeau scored the only goal of the middle frame, however, and the Barber Poles found themselves tied up again as they entered the final frame.
A tight-checking third period saw both MacKenzie, and Ivan Zhigalov stand tall until late in the game. With 5:41 to play, Kelly forced a turnover in the Kingston zone, and Stonehouse walked in, rifling a shot up high to retake the lead.
Kingston would be given their sixth powerplay with less than a minute and a half to go, but the Ottawa penalty kill remained stout, and they entered the holiday pause with a 3-2 win on the road.
The first-placed 67’s will enjoy their well-earned reprieve, before hosting these same Frontenacs inside The Arena at TD Place on Friday, December 30, at 2:00pm ET.
Game Notes:
- Brady Stonehouse’s team-leading 17th goal was his first game-winning marker of the season.
- Caden Kelly recorded multiple points for the first time in his OHL career.
- Henry Mews notched two primary assists, for his fourth multi-point effort of the campaign.
- Luca Pinelli has now scored in all three matchups with Kingston.
