67’s fall short in Barrie
The Ottawa 67’s put together a solid effort on Thursday night in Barrie, but they fell just short against one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference, dropping the decision 5-3.
In what has become a theme for the 67’s in their games of late, special teams was an important aspect right off the hop. Three minutes in, the Barber Poles got the game’s first opportunity, but it didn’t quite go how they would have liked, as Emil Hemming potted a shorty to give the Colts an early lead.
It didn’t deflate the Barber Poles, however, as they jumped right over the boards ready to keep working their power play. That perseverance paid off less than a minute later, as Frankie Marrelli – who is suddenly red hot – took a pass from Caden Kelly in the slot and ripped it home to tie the game.
Cole Beaudoin re-established the Barrie lead with a power play chance of their own less than three minutes later, but once again, Ottawa battled their way back. On another play set up by Kelly, Chase Yanni slotted home his fifth of the year, sending the clubs to the locker rooms deadlocked at two.
Early in the second, the Colts hit the scoresheet on the power play once again, with Kashawn Aitcheson finishing off a quick passing play. Fast forward to the dying seconds of the frame, former 67 Brad Gardiner gave Barrie a two-goal lead.
That scoreline seemed unlikely to change before the horn, but no one told Luca Pinelli that. He broke into the zone and fired a shot toward goal, beating Sam Hillebrandt over the glove, snipping the Barrie lead down to one goal with six seconds to spare.
With under two minutes to go in the game, the Colts padded their lead on a Beaudoin goal, effectively sealing the deal on Barrie’s win.
Box score
Teams | Score | Shots on goal | Power plays |
Ottawa | 3 | 1/4 | |
Barrie | 5 | 2/6 |
First period
1-0: BAR #28 Emil Hemming (11) scores. Assists: #53 Beau Jelsma SHORT HANDED
1-1: OTT #8 Frankie Marrelli (3) scores. Assists: #28 Caden Kelly POWER PLAY
2-1: BAR #29 Cole Beaudoin (14) scores. Assists: #77 Kashawn Aitcheson, #21 Riley Patterson POWER PLAY
2-2: OTT #16 Chase Yanni (5) scores. Assists: #28 Caden Kelly
Second period
3-2: BAR #77 Kashawn Aitcheson (14) scores. Assists: #21 Riley Patterson, #28 Emil Hemming POWER PLAY
4-2: BAR #25 Brad Gardiner (14) scores. Assists: #71 Bode Stewart, #86 Beau Akey
4-3: OTT #20 Luca Pinelli (27) scores. Assists: #8 Frankie Marrelli, #23 Will Gerrior
Third period
5-3: BAR #29 Cole Beaudoin (15) scores. Assists: #28 Emil Hemming, #77 Kashawn Aitcheson
Next up
The Barber Poles are off on Friday, but they’ll return to action on Saturday afternoon, when they visit the Owen Sound Attack at 4 p.m.