67’s finish off Bulldogs, turn page to Round 2 meeting with Generals
In a series featuring the underdogs and the Bulldogs, the Ottawa 67’s put the Ontario Hockey League on notice, knocking off the favourites in six games, winning three times on home ice.
After a disappointing Game 5 loss in Brantford on Saturday afternoon, the Barber Poles returned to Capital Territory in a foul mood, evident in their play. Waltzing to a 6-1 win, there was no one who could deny the 67’s of the win they viewed as their destiny.
“We expected to win,” said Will Gerrior, who scored a pair of goals in the win. “We came out with the mindset that we were going to win this game. It’s the outcome that we expected.”
From Gerrior’s marker under five minutes into the first period to give the Barber Poles their first 1-0 lead of the series, to stretching the lead in the middle stages, and rebounding after allowing an early goal in the third, the 67’s were decisive all night long, playing what Cameron described as their best game of the series.
“There were no passengers,” he said. “I thought our defence simplified the game, and played with a defend-first mentality. I preach that all year, but obviously, the more important the game, the higher the stakes, the more you reinforce it.”
After a Game 1 loss, the 67’s players had a team dinner at captain Luca Pinelli’s house, where J. Ross Robertson Cup champion and former NHLer Zenon Konopka shared some words of inspiration.
Those words resonated with the group, who continue to recite Konopka’s words before games. Now brothers, everyone is ready to do battle against anyone who stands in the way of their championship dreams. With it comes a responsibility to do whatever it takes to win for the person sitting next to you, and a belief that everyone is pulling the same rope in one direction.
It’s that mindset that allowed Ottawa to rise above the adversity in this series, and was especially true after a disallowed goal in Game 5, and through a suspension to Matthew Mayich.
“There’s ebbs and flows, that’s the playoffs,” Cameron said. “You’re not going to dominate the playoffs from start to finish, but that’s what you’re season prepares you for. You might not have your ‘A’ game, you think the calls are going against you, blah-blah-blah. You’re not going to see anything in the playoffs you haven’t seen in 68 games.”
When Cameron walked into the locker room after the game, one of his first announcements was that Monday would be a much-needed day off, which prompted an enthusiastic roar from the players, who have emptied the tank over the past week.
Rather than boarding the bus destined for Brantford one more time, everyone was able to sleep in, and cash in on some extra rest.
“Any time you wrap up a series and avoid the extra game, it’s huge,” Cameron said. “We start again Friday, and if we had to play again Tuesday, that adds up. If you have to, you have to. We prepare for every series like it’s going seven games.”
Of course, ending the series early means an opportunity to dig in on the next opponent – the Oshawa Generals – and game plan for Round 2.
“We’re focused on playing our own game, no matter who the opponent is,” Gerrior said. “Most of the video we do is going to be based on how we can make changes to our game to improve. We’re confident no matter who we play.”
The 67’s will be back on home ice on Tuesday and Thursday for Game 3 and Game 4 respectively. Tickets are available here.