67’s weekly: ramping up for a big test
Let’s take a ride in the time machine here for just a second.
A couple of weeks back, the Ottawa 67’s were in the midst of what ended up being a seven-game losing streak, but there was an unusual sense of calm surrounding the club, abnormal for a team struggling through a slump. The winning sentiment for the players and coaches alike was to trust the process.
They hadn’t been playing bad hockey, after all, and they felt they had deserved much more than they had gotten in October.
Specifically when it came to the penalty kill, Assistant Coach Norm Milley explained that they would eventually come out of the slump they were going through, but there wouldn’t be any extensive changes to the plan. That was also the overarching theme for the team as a whole, and wouldn’t you know it, Milley was right, and things are starting to look up.
In their past three games, the 67’s have allowed just one power-play goal in seven opportunities. Though it hasn’t dug them out of the bottom of the rankings, it has brought a nearly 10 percent bump, bringing them another step closer to the rest of the pack.
Perhaps the biggest jolt of confidence is their one penalty kill on Friday night against the Guelph Storm, which came in overtime. The 67’s killed it off, before winning the game moments later.
The power play, on the other hand, started hot, and has somehow only gotten better, finding the back of the net on all three of their opportunities over the weekend.
Across all phases of the game, it’s crystal clear that the 67’s have bought into the “every point matters” motto being preached to them.
As it stands, they hold the ninth seed in the OHL’s Eastern Conference, a single point back of the Brantford Bulldogs for the final playoff spot. Though still early, the 67’s coaching staff believes it’s never too early to consider playoff positioning, believing that points in November are equally as important as the ones you earn in March.
Going forward, the 67’s are continuing their odd start to November, including a school day game in Kingston tomorrow morning, before they take on the Brampton Steelheads on Friday night, in their lone game of the weekend.
The Fronts, who the 67’s just met last weekend, of course, are currently in the second spot in the Eastern Conference – though they could enter Wednesday morning’s game in third if the Oshawa Generals beat the Peterborough Petes on Tuesday night.
Facing stiff competition, the 67’s will also have to contend with the brain-splitting noise of nearly 5,000 schoolkids shrieking their heads off, creating an even bigger challenge.
With their practice schedule already in tatters, the Steelheads come to town boasting one of the most potent attacks in the entire Canadian Hockey League, scoring 4.71 goals per game.
Just 14 games into the season, Porter Martone leads the league with 32 points, and Carson Rehkopf isn’t far behind with 28. Simply put, they make teams pay.
The next couple of games are going to be a good barometer for the Barber Poles, to be certain.
