Melee Records Multi-Goal Game as Petes Fall to Ottawa
The Peterborough Petes saw Jonathan Melee record his first two-goal game as a member of the maroon and white, but the Ottawa 67’s took this one at the Peterborough Memorial Centre by the score of 3-2.
The Petes generated the first great chance of the game off a rush from towering Samuel Mayer. Mayer outbattled Alex Johnston protecting the puck with one hand on his stick and managed to flip it off Peterborough native and Ottawa netminder Will Cranley for a juicy rebound in front of the net. However, Ottawa’s Vinzenz Rohrer was the first to score after being assisted by Will Gerrior and Vsevolod Gaidamak at 11:33 of the opening period.
Brady Stonehouse capitalized on a wacky bounce 47 seconds later to extend Ottawa’s lead to 2-0. Stonehouse skated straight to the net and the puck landed in front of him after Cameron Tolnai‘s shot deflected its way behind a aggressive Tye Austin.
The maroon and white refused to enter the first intermission without a response. Joe Carroll, back in the lineup for the first time since Jan. 15, sped past 67’s blueliner Matthew Mayich and attempted to sneak the puck one-handed underneath Cranley’s pads. The goaltender, unaware that Melee was crashing the net, left the puck in front of him and Melee swooped in to pitchfork it five-hole to cut Peterborough’s deficit in half. Kaspars Ziemins registered the secondary assist.
MELEE RESPONDS 🚨
Carroll with the effort and @MeleeJonathan adds the finishing touch for his 8th of the season! #GoPetesGo pic.twitter.com/XbJD7NRrlT
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) February 4, 2022
The clubs ended the first 20 minutes at 2-1 in favour of the Barber Poles. Austin stood tall by turning aside the majority of shots faced, going 10 for 12. He made his greatest save in the dying seconds of the period.
TYE SHUTS THE 🚪🤯@tye32austin | @OHLHockey pic.twitter.com/VOTJ606qp1
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) February 4, 2022
Melee is starting to his stride in the Electric City. He stole the puck from Ottawa defenceman Jack Matier deep in the offensive zone and immediately dangled Cranley out of position to record his second goal of the game early in the second frame.
MAKE IT ✌🏻 FOR MELEE!@MeleeJonathan picks off Matier and fires the biscuit past Cranley for his second goal of the game 🎯#GoPetesGo pic.twitter.com/sKXdXgM1YL
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) February 4, 2022
The Petes outshot the 67’s 4-1 through the second period’s first seven minutes. Ottawa’s next shot would get past Austin courtesy of second-year forward Teddy Sawyer. Rookie Luca Pinelli was credited for the lone assist on Sawyer’s goal.
The Lift Lock City lads produced more shots in the second period than they did in the first period and outshot the opposition, 9-6.
The chances dried up during the third period. As much as the Petes pushed, Ottawa managed to eliminate high-danger chances. Austin saw 6 shots in the final 20 minutes, pushing his totals to 21 saves on 24 shots faced.
Peterborough native Cranley made 18 saves on 20 shots faced.
Melee has four points in his last four games. Tonight marked the first time Melee and Chase Stillman suited up in front of fans at the PMC.
