Shorthanded 67’s fall to Troops in return from holidays

In the absence of five regular skaters, the Ottawa 67’s threw everything they had at the North Bay Battalion, Thursday night, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the odds on the road.

Will Gerrior, and Luca Pinelli stoked the Barber Poles out to a 2-1 lead after the first period, but three unanswered North Bay goals proved to be the difference, as Ottawa fell 5-3. The 67’s outshot North Bay 37-26.

Gerrior opened the scoring 36 seconds in, taking advantage of a North Bay turnover, and beating Dom DiVincentiis with a slick breakaway move to the backhand. Dylan Richter evened the score less than three minutes later, but Ottawa captain Luca Pinelli’s 24th of the season made it a 2-1 game heading into the middle period.

The Battalion took over in the second, with three straight goals in the span of just over four minutes, courtesy of Jacob Therrien, Dalyn Wakely, and Paul Christopoulos, respectively.

Kaleb Lawrence made it a one-goal game 1:13 into the third, as the 67’s poured on the attack. Despite outshooting the home side 15-3 in the final period, DiVincentiis closed the door, and a Liam Arnsby empty-net goal sealed things late in the contest.

The 67’s return to home ice on Saturday afternoon, hosting the Kingston Frontenacs at 3:00pm.