67’s Fall to IceDogs, Still Clinch Playoff Berth
On their third game in two and a half days, the Ottawa 67’s couldn’t quite hang on to their third period lead, and fell by a final score of 4-3 to the Niagara IceDogs, at the Meridian Centre.
It wasn’t all bad news for Ottawa, though, as with the Sudbury Wolves falling 5-3 to the Mississauga Steelheads, the Barber Poles have officially clinched a spot in the 2022 Ontario Hockey League playoffs.
Vinzenz Rohrer, Chris Barlas, and Luca Pinelli stoked the 67’s out to a 3-1 lead, but the IceDogs stormed back in the third period, and staved off a furious Ottawa rally in the dying minutes to earn the victory.
Niagara opened the scoring in the first, thanks to Daniel Michaud, but the middle frame was owned by the Barber Poles.
First, it was Brady Stonehouse getting the puck to Jack Matier down low. His shot on the doorstop was stopped, but Rohrer drove the net, and banged home the rebound for his 24th of the season.
Less than a minute later, Tyler Boucher made a phenomenal defensive play to break up a Niagara chance, and started a three on two rush into the offensive zone. Boucher slid the puck to Alex Johnston in the middle, who fed Barlas, and the rookie cut back to the midlane, beating Josh Rosenzweig with a gorgeous backhand shot, giving the 67’s a 2-1 lead.
Not done there, the Barber Poles broke through again late in the frame, on the powerplay. Stonehouse made a pass to Jack Beck, and the Calgary Flames prospect found Luca Pinelli to Rosenzweig’s left. Pinelli rifled home his second in as many games, and the 67’s skated into the third up 3-1.
Unfortunately, despite outshooting the IceDogs 35-18 when all was said and done, Niagara took over in the third. Dakota Betts, Danil Gushchin, and Pano Fimis combined for three goals, and despite a dominant effort in the final minutes, the Barber Poles couldn’t find the tying marker, and fell 4-3.
Game Notes:
- Vinzenz Rohrer now has 10 points in as many games.
- Jack Beck extended his point streak to six games, Luca Pinelli extended his own to four, and Jack Matier to three.
- Brady Stonehouse picked up his sixth multi-point effort of the season.
- Tyler Boucher now has seven points in his last six games.
Up Next: The 67’s host the Hamilton Bulldogs on Friday, at 7:00pm ET.
