Barber Poles drop puck on all-important home-and-home with Petes

It’s another massive weekend for the Ottawa 67’s (21-30-3-5), which begins tonight with a road matchup with the Peterborough Petes (16-36-3-5) at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m.

Fans in Ottawa can follow along on Rogers TV and CHLTV, and hear Kenny Walls’ call on TSN 1200 as the Barber Poles chase down the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference.

In their last four games, the 67’s are winners of three, including their two most recent contests, taking down the North Bay Battalion and Windsor Spitfires. They combined for 10 goals in two games last weekend, three of which came courtesy of Swedish import forward Filip Ekberg.

On Sunday, the Barber Poles penalty kill unit held the Spits off the board in their four opportunities, denying the league’s fifth-ranked unit.

The Petes’ playoff hopes are dangling by a thread with nine games to go, sitting 11 points back of a postseason berth. While a loss wouldn’t mathematically eliminate them from contention, it would make their already slim odds even shorter.

They’ve been struggling of late, as well, dropping each of their past five contests. In that time, they’ve secured a single point, falling 4-3 to the Brantford Bulldogs in overtime on March 1st. Last Sunday, they dropped a 7-2 decision on the road against the Erie Otters.

Ottawa has already claimed a win in the season series, owning a 5-0-0-1 record against their Highway 7 rivals this season.

By the numbers

Keys to the game

• Prepared

The 67’s can’t afford to take the Petes lightly, they’ll be desperate for a win.  

• Physical

The small rink means there isn’t much space. Be prepared to be physical, and finish your hits.

• PK

The penalty kill was good last weekend, and it’ll need to be again tonight.