The Ottawa 67’s have earned a reprieve.
After an exhausting five-game road trip, that saw much of the team fall ill with the flu, the Barber Poles rebounded back on home ice, today, with a 5-1 win over the Sudbury Wolves.
“We’re going to take a couple days off,” said Head Coach Dave Cameron. “Obviously we’re short-staffed, but I thought we were real good against a good team last night in Peterborough, and real good today.”
“We’re going to make sure we rest, and try to get everyone back.”
With a slew of regulars, including Montreal Canadiens prospect Vinzenz Rohrer, and Calgary Flames pick Jack Beck, out of the lineup, Ottawa got production from myriad different players. Henry Mews, a natural defenceman playing at forward, scored a pair, along with goals from Cam Tolnai, Tyler Boucher, and an empty-netter from Brad Gardiner. Max Donoso was, again, brilliant in goal, stopping 27 of 28 shots.
It was an exciting evening for Mews, as the local product who was drafted seventh overall by Ottawa this spring notched his first multi-goal game in the OHL.
“I was trying to get used to [playing forward] yesterday, and today, I felt a lot more comfortable,” said Mews. “Me, [Luca Pinelli] and [Cooper Foster] were making some plays out there, so it was fun.”
Just like last night’s game, it was Tolnai opening the scoring for the 67’s. With Donoso out of the net on a delayed penalty, the OA served as the extra attacker, took a pass from Gardiner, and fired his 12th of the year past Joe Ranger for a 1-0 lead.
Immediately after a 67’s powerplay past the midway point of the second, however, Alex Pharand streaked out of the box and on to a breakaway, where he tied the game for the Wolves, 1-1.
Mews took over for the Barber Poles less than two minutes later. On the man advantage, a cross-ice feed from Boucher saw the rookie walk in from the point, and make no mistake on a shot from the top of the circle, restoring the Ottawa lead.
Just over a minute and half later, Mews took another shot that was stopped, but followed his own rebound, and potted his second of the afternoon.
Early in the third, Boucher sped into the Sudbury zone, and powered his way past the defender. As the Ottawa Senators prospect cut to the goal, he flipped the puck past Ranger, and made it 4-1 in favour of the 67’s.
The Wolves pulled Ranger for the extra attacker with seven minutes to play, only to have Gardiner ice things with the empty-netter, and the 67’s found themselves back in the win column.
Ottawa will enjoy some well-deserved time off, before hosting the Flint Firebirds on Friday night, for their Nutcracker Ball Game inside The Arena at TD Place.
Game Notes:
- Brad Gardiner and Cam Tolnai are now tied with Luca Pinelli and Brady Stonehouse, with a team-high 12 goals.
- Both Brad Gardiner and Tyler Boucher recorded Gordie Howe hat tricks.
- Wolves forward Marc Boudreau was ejected in the third period, after being assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for a check to the head of Stonehouse. The 67’s forward returned to the game.
- The 67’s sweep their two-game season series with Sudbury.
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