WEEKEND PREVIEW: 67’s look to climb standings in big three-game weekend
The Ottawa 67’s (6-4-1-0) will look to maintain their unbeaten record at TD Place when they face the Oshawa Generals Friday night in front of alumni from the 1977-87 era including 67’s great Bobby Smith. This game will kick start another busy weekend for the Barber Poles which will see them play three games in as many days, with the next to coming on the road. Following Friday night’s tilt against Oshawa, the 67’s wil visit the Niagara IceDogs and Hamilton Bulldogs.
The Barber Poles are coming off a lengthy road trip last weekend that ended with two wins and a loss. Their last result was a confidence-boosting overtime win over tough opponents Soo Greyhounds. After three back-to-back losses in the last week of September, the 67’s have made a strong comeback, winning four of their next five games. With all of these wins coming in overtime, it also shows the ability of the team to deliver results under pressure.
Friday’s game against Oshawa will see the continuation of the 50th anniversary celebrations by the 67’s. This weekend the spotlight will be on alumni from 1977-87 period, which saw the Barber Poles win their first Memorial Cup in 1984. The next section of the Brian Kilrea Legacy Wall will be unveiled during this game and 67’s legend Bobby Smith will return to where it all began.
The Opposition
Oshawa Generals (4-4-1-0)
The Generals, having lost three consecutive games, were able to finally register a win in their last game. They defeated the Sudbury Wolves 5-2 to arrest their losing streak. The 67’s have won the three previous encounters between these two teams and will look to exploit the porous defence of the Generals that has conceded 26 goals in their last five games.
Niagara IceDogs (6-2-1-0)
The IceDogs had a strong start to the season, winning four games in a row. They started October with two consecutive losses and then went on a three-game winning streak but that was halted by an overtime loss to Errie Otters in their previous game. The 67’s will be wary of their opponents because they have only managed to win once against the IceDogs in their previous five encounters.
Hamilton Bulldogs (5-1-1-2)
The Bulldogs started October with three consecutive losses but they have managed to turn it around by winning the next three games. They produced a last-minute comeback victory over the North Bay Battalion in their previous game. The Bulldogs will be a tricky opponent for the 67’s, with the Ottawa-side having won just two out of the five games these two sides have played.
Game Notes
- Travis Barron needs one point to reach 100 in his OHL career. He has scored in back-to-back games
- Noel Hoefenmayer needs one point to reach 50 in his OHL career
- With a power play conversion rate of 18.5% (10 goals in 54 pp minutes), the 67’s are ranked eighth in the OHL standings
- The 67’s are unbeaten at home this season (3-0-0) and are 4-1-0 in their last five games
HOW TO TUNE IN
Friday, October 20 vs Oshawa Generals – 7PM
TV: Rogers TV | Online: OHL Live
Radio: TSN1200 | TSN1200.ca
Saturday, October 21 @ Niagara IceDogs – 7PM
TV: Rogers TV | Online: OHL Live
Radio: 580 CFRA | CFRA.com
Sunday, October 22 @ Hamilton Bulldogs – 2PM
TV: Rogers TV | Online: OHL Live
Radio: TSN1200 | TSN1200.ca
