Three unanswered goals give 67’s win in Erie
The Ottawa 67’s have had a tough time scoring goals this season, but for the second straight game, they populated the scoresheet, this time for a victory.
Down 2-1 to the Erie Otters in the late first period, Brad Gardiner kicked off a run that amounted to three unanswered goals when all was said and done, lifting the 67’s to a 4-2 road win. 23 saves was enough for Max Donoso’s 10th win of the season, thanks to the eventual game-winner by Kaleb Lawrence, and insurance marker from Brady Stonehouse.
After a disappointing 7-5 loss in Niagara, Thursday, the 67’s didn’t fare much better off the hop tonight, when Brett Bressette opened the scoring for the home side, 7:46 in.
Not content to let another game slip away, however, Luca Pinelli tied things up for Ottawa, just 2:13 later. The 67’s captain roofed a one-timer thanks to a slick Cooper Foster pass, scoring his 23rd goal of the season, and making this a 1-1 game.
At the 16:40 mark, Sam Alfano restored the Erie lead, but it was again a quick response for the 67’s, this time by Gardiner. Less than a minute after the Alfano goal, Gardiner was parked on the doorstep during an Ottawa powerplay, and fired home his eighth of the campaign, sending the two teams to the second period in a 2-2 tie.
Following a scoreless stretch of over 13 minutes, and just after another Ottawa powerplay had expired, Lawrence redirected a Henry Mews pass for the 67’s first, and only lead of the evening.
They’d never look back, with Stonehouse providing the insurance marker on a slot shot with 5:37 to play, as the 67’s got back in the win column.
Ottawa closes out their pre-holiday schedule tomorrow, with a 2:00pm visit to the Mississauga Steelheads.
