67’s playoff lives on the line in Erie
The Ottawa 67’s (23-33-4-6) have their backs pressed up against the wall, heading into Erie to face the Otters (33-27-4-2) on Saturday night at the Erie Insurance Arena. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. You can see the game on CHLTV, and hear Kenny Walls’ call on 580 CFRA.
With the North Bay Battalion picking up a 5-4 win over the Niagara IceDogs last night, the 67’s now trail the Troops by four points with two games to go in the race for the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference. Ottawa would be mathematically eliminated with a loss of any kind.
The 67’s have been hot of late, picking up five points in their last three games, earning a massive 2-1 win on Thursday night on the road against the IceDogs. Alex Assadourian opened the scoring for the home side, but the Barber Poles used a couple of goals in the second from Nolan Jackson and Luca Pinelli to power themselves to two points.
Jackson’s goal 8:12 into the middle stanza was the first of his Ontario Hockey League career. Filip Ekberg picked up an assist on the marker, extending his point streak to nine games, in which time he has 12 points. The Swedish import has 40 points in 51 games in his rookie season.
Each of the Otters’ past two games have come against the Western Conference’s 10th-seeded club, the Guelph Storm. In both contests, the final score was 6-4, but each team walked away winners once. On Thursday, they fell on the road despite holding a 3-1 lead halfway through the second period.
With two games left in their season, the Otters are hemmed into the fifth seed in the West, and are locked into a first-round matchup with their American rival Saginaw Spirit.
In their only other meeting this season, the Otters claimed a 4-1 win inside The Arena at TD Place.
By the numbers
| Ottawa 67’s | Player | Total |
| Goals | Luca Pinelli | 36 |
| Assists | Matthew Mayich | 34 |
| Points | Luca Pinelli | 68 |
| Power play goals | Luca Pinelli | 15 |
| +/- | Filip Ekberg, Nolan Jackson | +4 |
| Erie Otters | Player | Total |
| Goals | Sam Alfano | 40 |
| Assists | Pano Fimis | 52 |
| Points | Pano Fimis | 83 |
| Power play goals | Sam Alfano | 13 |
| +/- | Nathan Sauder | +24 |
Keys to the game
- Ignore
A lot is riding on the result of this game, but the 67’s need to push that to the side and do their job.
- Desperate
Leave nothing in the tank. There is no tomorrow, so give everything you have today.
- Start fast
Getting on the board early would be massive today. Don’t give Erie time to settle into the game.
