67’s hold off Generals for 2-0 series lead
It wasn’t quite in the same fashion as Game 1, but the Ottawa 67’s again found a way to beat the Oshawa Generals at Centre Slush Puppie.
The Barber Poles took a 2-0 series lead, Sunday afternoon, in the form of a 3-2 victory. Logan Morrison led the way with a pair of goals and an assist, with Will Gerrior scoring the other, while Collin MacKenzie turned in another brilliant performance, stopping 29 of 31 shots.
“That’s playoff hockey,” said Head Coach Dave Cameron following the win. “When you play a team back to back, things tighten up. Rivalries build, things get competitive.”
In a far cry from Game 1, the first period was a scoreless, tight-checking affair, that ended with the 67’s outshooting the Generals 8-6.
Ottawa broke through 4:56 into the middle frame, when Brady Stonehouse made a drop pass to Morrison over the Oshawa line, and the reigning playoff MVP let go a bullet of a shot for his first of the postseason.
Less than three minutes later, Morrison won a board battle to Pinelli in the corner, who hit Gerrior driving the net, and a slick forehand-backhand move fooled Oster for a 2-0 lead.
A Beckett Sennecke goal brought Oshawa closer, and despite outshooting the Barber Poles 15-8 in the middle period, the home side entered the third with the lead.
On an Ottawa powerplay early in the third, Morrison banged home a Jack Beck rebound for his second of the day, and eventual game winner.
Calum Ritchie made it a game, with a powerplay goal of his own just past the midway point of the third, but MacKenzie and the 67’s shut the door in a testy third period, earning a 2-0 series lead, as Round 1 heads to Oshawa for Game 3.
“Obviously, best case scenario, we want to win the next two,” said Morrison. “But we know they’re going to come out really hard in their barn, so we don’t want to hurt ourselves. We’re taking it one step at a time.”
Game 3 goes down from the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa, Tuesday night at 7:05pm ET.
