MacKenzie returns with shutout, 67’s blow out Generals

If you’re asking the Ottawa 67’s, it’s probably good to have Collin MacKenzie back.

After missing 11 games due to injury, the 67’s star net minder returned to the crease on Friday night, pitching a 33-save shutout as his team routed the Oshawa Generals by a final score of 5-0.

Five different scorers came through for the home side, while MacKenzie backstopped them to a key divisional victory. It’s the seventh win in eight try’s over the Generals, as the 67’s move to just one point behind them for second place in the East Division.

MacKenzie’s first star performance was kicked off by a Kimi Körbler goal, just 2:05 in. A Chris Barlas faceoff win, and he dangled his sixth of the season past Jacob Oster to open the scoring.

On their second powerplay of the opening frame, Henry Mews made a cross-ice feed to Sam Mayer, and the overage defenceman blasted home a one-timer home for his 20th of the campaign.

40 seconds into the middle period, Jacob Maillet’s first home goal with the 67’s made it 3-0, and the Generals appeared to get back into the game soon after, but their would-be goal was waved off due to a high stick, after a lengthy review.

Adding insult to injury, Barlas took the puck after the ensuing faceoff, skating in on a two-on-one, and beating Oster with a high-blocker shot, for a 4-0 lead.

The scoring was ended at the 4:23 mark, thanks to a slick goal by Jack Dever. He snuck in behind the Oshawa defence, and received a Brad Gardiner pass all alone in front of the net.

Oshawa tried to rally, outshooting Ottawa 12-6 in the third, but MacKenzie and the Barber Poles held firm, for the decisive divisional win.

They’ll face a tough test tomorrow, with the league-leading London Knights in town for a 3:00pm puck drop.