The Ottawa 67’s entered Game 2 of the OHL Playoffs Sunday afternoon, hoping to carry over momentum from their first-round series opening win on Friday night.
Much like Game 1, the tension was palpable early, and gloves were dropped fast. This time, it took just 15 seconds.
After the early extracurriculars, the 67’s pulled away to open a 4-1 lead, before holding off a late comeback charge from the Kingston Frontenacs to go up 2-0 in the series with a 4-3 win at TD Place.
Ottawa’s Zach Houben’s check to the head penalty led to the fight, and just as they were about to kill it off, they were assessed a delay of game penalty, giving Kingston a brief two-man advantage.
The 67’s went on to kill off both before coming alive with strong physical forecheck.
Despite the 67’s strong attack pelting goalie Gavin Betts with shots, the Frontenacs held strong and capitalized on a chance of their own seven minutes into the period.
Vancouver Canucks prospect Kieren Dervin’s one-timer from the right circle was stopped by 67’s goalie Ryder Fetterolf. Jack Dever then collected the rebound and fed Alex MacLean, who broke the ice in Kingston’s favour to put them up 1-0.
The physicality continued and Ottawa pushed, leading to their third minor penalty of the first period, as Filip Ekberg went off for high-sticking.
But the Frontenacs were shut down again by the 67’s solid penalty kill.
67’s assistant coach Paul Stoykewych called his team’s penalty kill “blue collar” adding their work is “paying off so far.”
Shortly after Ekberg’s penalty ended, Ottawa got a power play opportunity of their own. Thomas Vandenberg ripped one from the high slot tying the game.
“I think power play and PK, we’re coming along,” Vandenberg said. “I’m doing really well and we have an awesome group of guys to do everything for us, go to battle.”
Ottawa did not sit back after tying things up. Less than two minutes later, Jasper Kuhta potted a goal, flipping the lead in Ottawa’s favour.
The tension and physicality stayed high, and players socialized aggressively in the right corner of the Kingston goal after the horn concluded the period. Ottawa’s Connor Bewick caught a roughing penalty.
“When we play a physically hard, aggressive style, there’s gonna be times where you’re gonna take penalties and when you trust your (penalty) kill,” Stoykewych said.
Almost halfway into the second, Vandenberg paired his goal with an assist, feeding Shaan Kingwell at the left circle to extend Ottawa’s lead to 3-1.
Just over a minute later, Vandenberg came calling again. He buried a rebound on a tipped shot from the left circle, potted in to make it 4-1. After giving up 4 goals, former Belleville Senators head coach Troy Mann opted for a goalie change. Matthew Minchak replaced Betts.
Minchak, who stands six feet and five inches tall, announced his arrival in the dying seconds of the period by making a big save in tight to keep the game within three.
“The shot I had on Minchak, I believe if that was Betts it might’ve been in because of almost half a foot in height difference,” Vanderberg said.
In the third, McCue took an undisciplined penalty, leading to a Kingston goal. A shot from the point was deflected in front, cutting Ottawa’s lead back to two.
The power play goal, paired with Minchak’s entry, refreshed the Frontenacs, as they pressed on and rode the newfound momentum after a faceoff win to make it 4-3.
“They kinda went to do-or-die mode, so they became a lot harder, but we maybe also backed up a bit,” Vanderberg said.
“We had to hit the reset button and make sure that we don’t let the game get away from us,” Fetterolf added.
With 56.4 to go in regulation, Mann pulled Menchak to try to tie the game with the six-on-five advantage. The Frontenacs only managed one shot, and the 67’s survived to close out the victory.
With a perfect 2-0 series lead over the Frontenacs, the 67’s head to the Slush Puppie Place in Kingston for Game 3.
“They’re gonna come really hard on us, so we have to be ready and we have to initiate first,” Vanderberg said.
Featured image by Tim Austen/Ottawa 67’s
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