67’s stifle Petes in road win

It was a long time coming for the Ottawa 67’s, Sunday afternoon, when they got back in the win column against the Peterborough Petes.

Cooper Foster’s 12th goal of the season was enough cushion late in the second period, as the Barber Poles bounced back with a 2-1 victory on the road, knocking off the Petes for the first time in four tries this season. The opening marker belonged to Caden Kelly, and Max Donoso made 39 saves as he became the 10th goaltender in 67’s history to reach 50 career wins, since records have been kept.

The win didn’t come without its adversity, as the 67’s had to weather the Petes’ strong defensive structure, and kill off a a major penalty to Brady Stonehouse, who was ejected for what was called a check to the head late in the second period.

Kelly’s second of the season broke the scoreless deadlock near the midway point of the first, when he took a pass from Henry Mews, streaked down the right wing boards, and beat Zach Bowen from an impossible angle.

11:02 into the second period, the Petes returned fire on an odd-man rush that was capped off by Quinton Pagé, evening the score.

Not to be outdone, the 67’s soon found themselves on an odd-man rush of their own, and Luca Pinelli found Foster to Bowen’s right, who made no mistake to restore a lead that Ottawa wouldn’t lose.

The goal was Foster’s sixth game-winner of the season, tying him with Kitchener’s Carson Rehkopf for the league lead, when the final buzzer sounded.

Also picking up an assist on the marker was Matthew Mayich, who suited up in his 150th OHL game.

The lead was put into some doubt, however, when Stonehouse was ejected for what was deemed to be a check of the head of Pagé, but the Petes got nothing going on the prolonged powerplay, as Donoso and Co. shut the door en route to the win.

Ottawa has three more on the road before the Christmas break, beginning with a Thursday night visit to the Niagara IceDogs at 7:00pm.