Game Preview: 67’s at Barrie
Ottawa 67’s (30-28-2-1 63PTS) at Barrie Colts (36-20-0-2 74PTS)
The 67’s travel up Highway 400 to the Barrie Molson Centre where they’ll meet the Central Division leading Colts for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop.
This is their third of four meeting this season, with the final match coming up at The Arena at TD Place on March 16. Barrie and Ottawa split the first two contests, as each team claimed victory in the opposition’s rink.
The Colts shutout the Barber Poles 4-0 in their home opener back in late September. Team Canada netminder and New Jersey Devils prospect Mackenzie Blackwood 44 shots in the win. OHL top scorer Kevin Labanc recorded his first two points of the season in that game. He now sits at 112 points, seven more than London’s Christian Dvorak in second.
Ottawa exacted their revenge two weeks later though, mirroring Barrie’s four-goal output and shutout. 67’s goaltender Leo Lazarev turned away all 35 Colts shots, on the way to his first shutout of 2015/16. Blueliner Stepan Falkovsky was Ottawa’s only multi-point producer, though seven players finished with a plus-2 rating.
The current five-game road trip didn’t start well for the 67’s, falling 5-2 to the division rival Frontenacs on Monday night in Kingston. The next four match-ups could determine if they’ll enjoy home-ice advantage in the OHL playoffs.
With only seven games left in their season, postseason positioning has become somewhat clearer. The Barber Poles still have not officially clinced a playoff spot, though if they can collect six points before season’s end they’re in.
They can technically finish as high as second in the East, though that seems like a stretch, as Barrie is currently 11 points up on Ottawa. In all likeliness, the 67’s will likely end the year as the fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh seed in the OHL’s Eastern Conference.
That being said, their opponents could range from Niagara, Mississauga, Peterborough, North Bay, or even the aforementioned Colts. Tonight’s game will have a playoff feel around it, as it might be a preview of the Barber Poles first round series.
Where to Watch
Catch the 67’s live on Rogers TV Ottawa (Cable 22) or listen to this tonight’s game on 580 CFRA.
Follow the Ottawa 67’s on Twitter for all the latest info and in-game updates.
The 67’s are in the midst of a five game road trip with stops in Kingston, Barrie, Guelph, and Hamilton, before arriving back in Ottawa for rematch versus the Colts at TD Place on March 19. Sweet seats are available by clicking here, calling 613-232-6767 x1, or in person at the TD Place Box Office.
From March 5-13, the 2016 Tim Hortons Brier will call The Arena at TD Place home. Full event passes, mini-packs, and individual draw tickets are available now by clicking here.
