Barberpoles Edge Petes in East Division Showdown
Key points were up for grabs on Friday night when the Petes visited the Ottawa 67’s in the nation’s capital. Peterborough entered the night in fifth place in a jam-packed Eastern Conference, but couldn’t gain any ground, falling 3-2 to the 67’s.
The opening period came and went in a flash, with few whistles and fans fans in Ottawa enjoying Peterborough’s typical high-tempo, end-to-end style. Aside from a mid-period 67’s powerplay, the Petes were in control for most of the frame.
The biggest chances were generated by Peterborough’s top line of Eric Cornel, Hunter Garlent and Josh Coyle, but Leo Lazarev was up for the challenge. Lazarev and his Petes counter-part, Matt Mancina, kept the score at 0-0 with the Petes up 9-6 in shots after the first.
Ottawa gained a spark after the first intermission, coming out strong at home and capitalizing as Jeremiah Addison ripped a rebound past Mancina for his twentieth of the season from Nevin Guy and Dante Salituro.
The Petes earned a short 5-on-3 powerplay shortly after Ottawa’s goal, but the 67’s escaped trouble and maintained their one goal lead.
It was Ottawa on the scoresheet again as the first team to take advantage of a powerplay, doubling their lead with 32 seconds before the buzzer on another rebound goal. This time, Ben Fanjoy found the back of the net after a scramble out front generated by Artur Tyanulin and Connor Graham. Peterborough was forced to gameplan a two goal comeback in the third period in the second intermission, trailing by a pair and down 18-15 in shots.
Peterborough wasted no time building their case for a comeback in the third period, and in a matter of minutes Eric Cornel continued his clutch scoring streak to bring the Petes within one from linemates Hunter Garlent and Josh Coyle.
Ottawa’s one goal lead soon turned to zero, as Adam Timleck battled for the puck and pushed off the sideboards, taking a shot and beating Lazarev short-side to tie the game at 9:45. Shortly after Timleck’s game-tying goal, though, the 67’s were right back on the scoresheet as Noel Hoefenmayer jammed the puck home on a delayed Petes penalty.
In the final minutes of the game, the Petes did everything they could to even the score, but Ottawa held on for dear life and closed out the 3-2 win. Mancina made 20 saves to Lazarev’s 23. Hoefenmayer, Tyanulin, and Timleck were the first, second, and third stars of the game, respectively.
The Petes are off on Saturday before hosting the Eastern Conference-leading Kingston Frontenacs on Sunday at 7pm. 500 fans at the game will receive a free mini-stick or rally towel courtesy of Cogeco TV and Signarama. Tickets are still available here, and the PMC Collins Barrow Box Office is open from 9:30-12:30 on Saturday and 1-9pm on Sunday to help pack the PMC.
