Donoso shuts out Sting, 67’s win 2-0
The Ottawa 67’s were a depleted group, Sunday, but they sure didn’t look it.
Down Luca Pinelli, Logan Morrison, Vinzenz Rohrer, Tyler Boucher, and Derek Smyth, the Barber Poles hosted the Sarnia Sting, and came away with a hard-fought 2-0 victory.
Matthew Mayich scored the eventual game-winner, and Brady Stonehouse put the game away in the third, to secure a 30-save shutout for Max Donoso.
“That’s a big two points for us, they’re a really good team over there,” said Donoso, following his third career shutout. “We’re really happy with the way we played. Everybody was doing their part; blocking shots, checking hard, I just loved our game. It’s the epitome of how we want to play every night.”
Despite the bodies out of the lineup, the 67’s came out flying, immediately going on the attack. Even with the absence of numerous top players, the Barber Poles rode a few powerplay chances to dominance of the shots on goal department, outshooting Sarnia 17-11 in the opening frame.
The Sting mounted a response early in the second, and outshot the 67’s 11-4 when all was said and done, but it was Ottawa logging the period’s only tally. At the 11:40 mark, Thomas Sirman connected with Cooper Foster, who found Mayich at the point. The Stoney Creek product let go a quick wrister from the point, and it bounced off the post and in past Benjamin Gaudreau, giving the Barber Poles a 1-0 lead heading into the third.
In the final period, the Sting had multiple opportunities with the man advantage, but the 67’s penalty kill held them off, and Donoso made a series of larcenous saves. With just over a minute and a half to play, Sirman sprung Stonehouse on a breakaway, and slid the puck past Gaudreau with a gorgeous move, sealing the deal for Ottawa.
Donoso’s brilliance continued through the final minute, and he secured his second shutout of the year, in a 2-0 Ottawa win.
“It’s tough to get a shutout any time, but to do it while you’re short-staffed is a real indication of a buy-in by your team,” said Head Coach Dave Cameron following the victory. “We played real well defensively, didn’t turn any pucks over, and Max made some real big saves. It was a combination of a lot of good things.”
The 67’s will try to keep it going, Thursday night, when they visit the Barrie Colts to kick off a three-game road trip.
Game Notes:
- Brady Stonehouse leads the 67’s with 23 goals.
- Thomas Sirman has seven points in his last six games.
- Cooper Foster extended his point streak to four games.
- Matthew Mayich has goals in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
