Petes Play Three in Three Days

The Petes start a trio of games in three nights with a Thursday evening showdown with the Ottawa 67’s at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Ottawa has currently dropped two straight while being outscored 13-4. Peterborough, who picked up a point in an overtime thriller at the PMC on Dec. 9, will look to rebound following a defeat by the Oshawa Generals on the road.

The Petes and 67’s have met four times this season. In sandwich fashion, Ottawa narrowly took the first meeting before the mighty maroon and white took the next two and then nearly tied the game after Emmett Sproule extended his point streak to 21 games to get Peterborough within one with 1:44 remaining in regulation. 

Coincidentally, Thursday will be Peterborough’s third contest against Ottawa in its last five games. The squads met on Nov. 28, then the Petes hosted the Kingston Frontenacs, and then travelled to the Nation’s Capital for that nail-biting affair on Dec. 8. Ottawa was scheduled with more games early in December. They played on Dec. 3, Dec. 5, Dec. 10, and Dec. 11 as well as Dec. 8. They are 1-5 in their last five games.

Their top scorer is Cameron Tolnai. First round OHL Import Draft selection Vinzenz Rohrer, born in Austria, is generating some steam, picking up four points in four games. He passed Vsevolod Gaidamak for second on the team’s scoring list with 22 points but will be absent tonight after being named to Team Austria’s World Junior team.

X-FACTOR: 

Forward Tucker Robertson: 23 GP, 15 G, 19 A, 34 PTS

Robertson has been scoreless for a while but a two-way forward like him who has shown he can put the puck in the net as much as dominate the faceoff circle is too good to not score soon. 

The Hamilton Bulldogs host the Petes at the FirstOntario Centre 24 hours after the Petes battle Ottawa. Hamilton has won the majority of games facing off against Peterborough, but a team should never underestimate the fortitude of the Lift Lock City lads. Petes’ leading scorer Robertson is tremendous against Hamilton. In three appearances, he has two goals and three assists.

Peterborough and Hamilton are similar on the power play. Both teams are above average with the Petes ranking 10th (21.6%) and the Bulldogs ranking 6th (25.5%). If Peterborough draws penalties and score against Hamilton’s average penalty kill unit, the Petes can control the game.

Peterborough registered a 25% scoring mark through 60 minutes the last time these teams met, cashing in on six of 24 shots. The mighty maroon and white have proven they can score against teams like the Bulldogs, who have one of the top forward groups in the OHL.

Logan Morrison, George Diaco, and Jan Mysak headline a forward core that has three 30+ and four 20+ point producers. Morrison leads the pack with nine goals and 27 assists for 36 points. Diaco comes in second with 11 goals and 22 helpers for 33 points. Mysak is third with 17 goals and 14 apples for 31 points and will not be the Bulldogs’ lineup after he was named to Czech Republic’s World Junior Team in Alberta.

The Petes did extremely well duelling the Bulldogs in the OHL’s last full season, going 5-2-0-0 in the 2019-20 season. They look to trend that way beginning Friday night.

X – FACTOR

Forward Emmett Sproule: 9 G, 24 A, 33 PTS

The veteran forward recorded all 33 of his points during his 21-game point streak that lasted over a month. He has a fountain of knowledge and experience to lean on when his team enters an opponent’s building that’s intimidating. Sproule has the shooting and passing skills that makes him lethal anytime he’s on the ice. 

Peterborough concludes their three games in three days with a Saturday showdown with Oshawa at the Centre. The Petes have seen the Generals the least out of the three teams this week, squaring off on Oct. 17 at Tribute Communities Centre and Oct. 21 in Peterborough. The home team has won both contests. 

Ryan Stepien scored twice to lead the Generals to a 6-3 victory against Peterborough during the first tilt. The Petes bounced back by routing Oshawa 5-2 when Robertson and Carroll led the offensive attack with five-point (1G-4A) and three-point (2G-1A) performances, respectively.

The Petes hold the edge in the teams’ season series from 2019-20, going 4-2-0-1. 

Ty Tullio has the most points on the Generals this season with seven goals and 23 assists across 24 games. Tullio was drafted in the fifth round by the Edmonton Oilers during the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

Neither squad has been able to stop the power play, which could be dangerous for the visiting Generals. On Oct. 21, Peterborough capitalized on a power play opportunity halfway through the third period that increased their lead to 4-2 and inhibited Oshwa’s ability to rally. Robertson pushed the puck into the empty net with a minute left to seal the victory. 

X-FACTOR

Defenceman Samuel Mayer: 23 GP, 6 G, 8 A, 14 PTS, +10

Mayer is a strong defenceman. He can make an outlet pass as easily as he can provide a solid body check. Mayer spends time on the power play where he can utilize his powerful slap shot or feed someone for the one-timer. His plus-10 is a sign that he is doing the little things right when he’s on the ice.