Petes Fall Short in Ottawa
Defenceman Brian Zanetti scored his first career OHL goal and Emmett Sproule picked up his 11th multi-point (1G, 1A) game of the season in a hard-fought tilt in the nation’s capital. Michael Simpson stopped 26 shots and Peterborough native Will Cranley stopped 21 shots.
It was relatively a quiet opening period for both teams. There was a lot of back and forth and both teams generated chances in the offensive zone. Peterborough had three grade-A chances against the 67’s in the first half of the period, including two on the powerplay. Philadelphia Flyers prospect and hometown product J.R. Avon rang the puck off the post during this play:
.@NHLFlyers prospect @Avonjr_1010 turns on the jets and almost nets his 14th goal of the season ????#GoPetesGo | #BringItToBroad pic.twitter.com/KQjOtWo3Pw
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) January 15, 2022
Shortly after, defenceman Samuel Mayer nearly buried a chance short side on Will Cranley, but then Brady Stonehouse picked up the loose puck, went down the left side of the rink and fired the puck past tonight’s starter Michael Simpson to give Ottawa a 1-0 lead before the first intermission. The 67’s headed to the locker room leading in shots 9-5 and on the power play.
The 67’s spent the first minute in the Petes zone with the man-advantage, but Simpson stood tall to keep the score close. After the penalty expired, the maroon and white spent the majority of the second in the period in Ottawa’s end, firing 10 shots Cranley’s way. After ringing a few pucks off the post, the Petes were whistled for a questionable high-sticking infraction, sending the faceoff to Peterborough’s end. A 67 won the faceoff, a puck fired from the point and went past three Petes and deflected off of Stonehouse, leaving no chance for Simpson to give the Barber Poles a 2-0 lead.
After Stonehouse’s goal, the Lift Lock lads turned up the pressure and dominated the rest of the period. Following a clean faceoff win by Avon, the puck rolled to Joe Carroll, who fired the puck off the end boards and OA Emmett Sproule made no mistake by jumping on the loose puck to burry his 12th goal of the season!
WE’RE ON THE BOARD ????@Emmett9393 fires in his 12th goal of the season after the puck bounces off the end boards! @Samuel6Mayer and @joe_carroll19 pick up the helpers!#GoPetesGo | @SUBWAY pic.twitter.com/v9wU1LLtAg
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) January 15, 2022
Just before the middle frame expired, rookie Nick Lardis fired the puck off the post and Mayer laid this devastating hit.
.@Samuel6Mayer is bruising bodies ????????#GoPetesGo pic.twitter.com/q01UzYC2D5
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) January 15, 2022
Peterborough carried their momentum from the end of the second into the final period, generating a ton of chances, however, another infraction was whistled against them. Much like Ottawa’s second goal, a puck bounced off of an enemy named Vinzenz Rohrer, leaving zero chance for Simpson. Ottawa thought they had a comfortable 3-1 lead.
Down but not out: Petes continued to play hard whistle-to-whistle and played with high pace. This energy lead to a forecheck that saw Philadelphia Flyers prospect Zanetti bury his first career OHL goal from the blue line, to cut Ottawa’s lead 3-2! Assists were credited to Sproule and Sam Alfano.
.@NHLFlyers prospect Brian Zanetti buries his first OHL goal after launching a missile from the point! ????#GoPetesGo | #BringItToBroad pic.twitter.com/TnGH56zkWj
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) January 15, 2022
Head Coach Rob Wilson pulled his netminder for the second time in as many nights, seeking to tie the game, however, Vsevolod Gaidamak got a hold of the puck and buried it into the empty net. The 67’s tie up the season series 3-3-0-0. The final shots were 30-23 in favour of Ottawa.
The Petes are back in action tomorrow night at 7:05 pm against the Oshawa Generals. We’re asking fans to submit photos and videos of encouraging and supporting messages to our players following the latest restrictions that prevent fans from attending. To find out how you can cheer us on, click here.
