Mrazek keeps IceDogs at bay
Petr Mrazek is fast turning into something of the Ottawa 67’s version of a Friday Night Special, not that he’s less than good on any of the other six nights of the week.
For the second consecutive Friday night at home, the Detroit Red Wings’ draft pick stole the show, this time stopping 37 of 39 shots, many of them from point-blank range, and for the second consecutive Friday night, the choice of the game’s first star became a no-brainer.
The show by Mrazek gave 67’s high-flying winger Shane Prince the chance to be the hero, scoring the game-winner 2:50 into overtime on the end of what seemed like a double shift as the 67’s turned back the stubborn Niagara IceDogs before a Rona Centre crowd of 9,657 Friday night.
It was easily the game of the year on Ottawa ice and Mrazek was never better than in the third period, making 20 stops, including back-to-back game-savers off brothers Freddie and Dougie Hamilton with the Niagara power play ever dangerous.
Mrazek got the 67’s to overtime where rookie Sean Monahan stole the puck inside the 67’s zone and eventually it found its way to Prince who first deflected one off the post, then still had the presence of mind to whack the rebound home.
The game-winner broke up a goaltending duel between Mrazek and Niagara’s Mark Visentin, two of the league’s best.
“I couldn’t see (the puck), but I got a bounce and that was it,” said Prince, who with linemates Ryan Martindale and Tyler Toffoli, continue to hold three spots in the league’s top 10.
“It’s definitely up there.”
The 67’s are still trying to figure out how a legitimate slash by their own Jake Cardwell on a Niagara breakaway where the shooter doesn’t lose stride and still gets the shot away, becomes a penalty shot.
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