GAME RECAP: 67’s mount comeback, but fall to Kingston in shootout
The Ottawa 67’s fall 4-3 to the Kingston Frontenacs in the shootout. The loss officially ends the Barber Poles’ winning streak at nine.
Apart from a barrage of shots early, the 67’s had a bit of a quieter first period, much like the last game before. An early penalty would swing the momentum in Kingston’s direction, and they would not look back, with André Mondoux netting the team’s first of the night near the end of the first. While Ottawa would only land four shots on Frontenac’s goaltender Gavin Betts in the first, they would keep Kingston to only eight shots.
Kingston would add to the lead early in the second with a goal from rookie Camden McCuaig, the second of his career and his second against Ottawa, having scored in their last meeting on December 28th. The Frontancs would continue their onslaught of offense early, before the 67’s would start to answer with their own. Despite the 67’s efforts, Kingston would score their third in a row thanks to an unassisted marker from Aleks Kulemin. A late penalty by Kingston would be just enough to tilt the ice back in Ottawa’s favour to end the period, where the team registered three shots in the last minute.
Kingston would try to lock down Ottawa in the third, as they tried to secure the victory in regulation, but the 67’s offense started to click. Brock Chitaroni would score the Barber Poles’ first of the night. Three minutes later, Filip Ekberg would score his ninth goal in his last 10 games to bring the game within reach. Chitaroni would return on the scoresheet, with his second of the night and the game-tying goal, just a few minutes away from the buzzer. Ottawa would hold on and secure a point to bring the game to overtime, where they would be the only team to register a shot on net. That said, it wasn’t enough to end it, and for the second night in a row, the 67’s would head to the shootout.
However, this time things didn’t go as swimmingly. The Frontenacs would get on the board first with a goal by Aleks Kulemin. The Frontenacs would score again in the second round, thanks to Adam Kelly. Despite being down 2-0 and facing all the pressure, Ekberg would score to give the team a chance to hold on. Ryder Fetterolf would stop the Frontenacs’ third attempt, leaving the game on the line to Nic Whitehead, who would end up getting turned away by Gavin Betts for the Kingston win.
Box score
| Teams | Score | Shots on goal | Power plays |
| Ottawa | 3 | 24 | 0/1 |
| Kingston | 4 | 27 | 0/4 |
First period
#25 André Mondoux (3) scores. Assisted: #88 Jacob Battaglia, #19 Alex McLean
Second Period
#20 Camden McCuaig (2) scores. Assisted: #14 Matthew Frost
#41 Aleks Kulemin (6) scores.
Third Period
#17 Brock Chitaroni (6) scores. Assisterd: #12 Spencer Bowes, #29 Cooper Foster
#34 Filip Ekberg (14) scores. Assisted: #29 Cooper Foster
#17 Brock Chitaroni (7) scores. Assisted: #12 Spencer Bowes, #37 Thomas Vandenberg
Up next
The 67’s will have a few days to prepare themselves before they head up to North Bay to challenge the Battalion on the 8th of January at 7 p.m.
The 67’s remain on the road until the 16th, where they’ll return to host their cross-provincial rivals, the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques, for the first game in the Battle of the Ottawa River series. Fans can buy tickets to the game here.
Jacob Titus
Writer, Ottawa 67’s
