Novotný, Walton Pick up Four Points Each in Petes Win Over First Place 67’s

By Gabriel Rowland Renaud

 

On Thursday, February 12, the Peterborough Petes hosted the first place Ottawa 67’s in front of their 17th sold-out crowd of the season. The game was presented by Gravity Group, in support of BGC Kawarthas. The Petes exploded for five goals in the second period, ultimately winning the game by a score of 7-3.

 

GAME STORY:

 

It was the start of the second period, and the Peterborough home crowd resonated with equal parts anticipation and discontent. The Petes were down 0-1 to the visiting Ottawa 67’s, the result of an early tally from winger Nic Sima (1st, 6:35). The Petes would have to get on the board quickly to shake the negative energy that had settled in the PMC this evening…

 

Just five minutes into the second frame, Adam Novotný revitalized the home crowd, initially posting up behind the net, and playing the puck to Leon Kolarik in the slot. Kolarik fired, but it was denied on a diving save from goalkeeper Ryder Fetterolf. However, Novotný snuck out from behind the net to collect Kolarik’s rebound, shoot from a sharp angle, and score, tying the game at one (2nd, 5:00). This spark from the imports was pivotal. Not even a full minute later, Aiden Young would redirect Matthew Perreault’s shot from the point, and the Petes would go up 2-1, taking their first lead of the game (2nd, 5:40). The game would quiet down for a few minutes until the towering Kieron Walton streaked in on the rush, and found the back of the net off the back of his own rebound, extending the lead 3-1 (2nd, 12:22). It was at this point that the Petes began to snowball. The momentum the team had accumulated was unshakable. In fact, so much so that when Peterborough was assessed a tripping minor, the Petes were unfazed. Cool as a cucumber, Brennan Faulkner outskated Filip Ekberg along the boards, pressuring him off the puck. Faulkner cut in on Fetterolf and fired, deflecting off the Ottawa netminder. Faulkner would quickly collect, and fire a second time, cleanly beating Fetterolf to put the Petes up 4-1 (2nd, 13:06).

 

Ekberg would manage to strike back shortly after, unleashing a missile from the top of the left circle precisely as the Ottawa power play expired, 4-2 (2nd, 14:48). This Ekberg marker would prove to be an outlier rather than a new trend in the scoresheet as the Petes would snag yet another goal before period’s end. Young would receive a snappy pass behind the net from Novotný who was stationed in the right corner of the o-zone. Young would proceed to carry the puck up to the right edge of the slot, quickly pivot 180°, then fire a sharp wrister to beat Fetterolf, putting the Petes up 5-2 (2nd, 18:41). Play drew on for a minute and some change until the buzzer sounded.

 

 As the puck dropped to kick off the third, one might have expected Peterborough to play it safe, and slow the game down to a crawl. However, the Petes weren’t interested in eating up time. The scoring ‘snowball’ was rolling at full speed, and wasn’t slowing down anytime soon. The Petes would add another when Walton shot from the right circle to bury it on the power play, 6-2 (3rd, 8:18). The 67’s showed signs of life shortly after as Brayden Krawczyk would pick the top right corner to find twine, 6-3 (3rd, 10:48). Unfortunately for the visitors it would be too little too late as just shy of two minutes later Novotný would force a turnover at the o-zone blueline, and dish to Kolarik who was completely open at the top of the left circle. Kolarik would hold for a beat, then launch a wrister from the hash marks to put the puck top shelf for the final goal of the game, 7-3 (3rd, 12:39).

 

Kieron Walton (2G, 2A) and Adam Novotný (1G, 3A) both led the way for the Petes with four points each, while Aiden Young scored twice and added an assist. Leon Kolarik also had a multi-point game, scoring and picking up an assist. Brennan Faulkner scored, with Yanis Lutz, Matthew Perreault, Graydon Strohack, and Matthew Soto all getting an assist. Easton Rye made 31 saves in the game, taking over the OHL lead in wins with 29.

 

Game Recap:

 

First Period:

 

• Ottawa Goal (6:35) – Nic Sima (15), Assists – Connor Bewick (14), Frankie Marrelli (21)

 

Second Period:

 

• Peterborough Goal (5:00) – Adam Novotný (25), Assists – Leon Kolarik (19), Yanis Lutz (19)
• Peterborough Goal (5:40) – Aiden Young (16), Assists – Matthew Perreault (19), Kieron Walton (36)
• Peterborough Goal (12:22) – Kieron Walton (33), Assists – Grayden Strohack (8), Aiden Young (24)
• Peterborough Goal (13:06) SH – Brennan Faulkner (19), Unassisted
• Ottawa Goal (14:48) Filip Ekberg (19), Assists Kohyn Eshkawkogan (33), Jasper Kuhta (20)
• Peterborough Goal (18:41) – Aiden Young (17), Assist – Adam Novotný (24)

 

Third Period:

 

• Peterborough Goal (8:18) PP – Kieron Walton (34), Assists – Matthew Soto (26), Adam Novotný (25)
• Ottawa Goal (10:48) – Brayden Krawczyk (4), Assists – Teddy Spitznagel (4), Reid Hayes (3)
• Peterborough Goal (12:39) – Leon Kolarik (16), Assist – Adam Novotný (26)

 

The Petes are back in action on Friday, February 13, when they travel to Oshawa to take on the rival Oshawa Generals for Friday Night Faceoff. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Tribute Communities Centre.. The game will be broadcast live on YourTV Peterborough, Freq 90.5., and for free on Flo Hockey’s social media accounts.