On Monday, April 24, the Petes looked to wrap up the series and advance to the Eastern Conference Final with a win at home against the Ottawa 67’s. The 67’s battled back from a three goal deficit on Saturday afternoon in Ottawa to extend the series to a sixth game tonight. The Petes are 4-0 this postseason at home, and have not lost two games in a row all playoffs. Fans were once again encouraged to wear white to the game, whiting out the PMC for the third straight home game.
It was a fiery start to the game, with both teams desperate to get out to an early lead. Halfway through the period, the PMC would explode because for the third game in a row, the Petes would strike first. 10 minutes into the first, Owen Beck knocked down a puck and sent it to Chase Stillman who then made a spinning backhand pass to Connor Lockhart to make it 1-0. Peterborough would extend their lead two minutes later, when Brennan Othmann fed Avery Hayes for a one-timer to make it 2-0. Ottawa would come back and add a goal with just over two minutes left, but that would be all they would get and the Petes took a 2-1 lead into the break, leading 18-15 in shots.
For the second game in a row, the third period would be all Peterborough. It all started four minutes in when Owen Beck hit Connor Lockhart on a two on one, who then beat Max Donoso to make it 3-1 Petes. The goal was Lockhart’s second of the game and fourth of the playoffs. 30 seconds later, Jonathan Melee crossed over the blueline and ripped a shot right past Donoso to extend Peterborough’s lead to 4-1. The two goals would be the only offence in the period, and Peterborough would enter the third with a commanding 4-1 lead, just 20 minutes away from their first Eastern Conference Final berth since 2016-17.
Connor Lockhart completed the hat trick in the first minute of the third, which proved to be the difference maker as the Petes held off another late comeback by the 67’s and won the game 5-4. The win eliminated the regular season Champion Ottawa 67’s in six games, sending the Petes to their first Conference Championship since 2016-17.
Connor Lockhart led the way for the Petes with a hat trick, while Chase Stillman added three assists. Avery Hayes and Jonathan Melee both scored, Owen Beck had two assists. Brennan Othmann, Tucker Robertson, Jax Dubois, and Cam Gauvreau all picked an assist, while Michael Simpson stopped 35/39 for his eighth win of the postseason.
Tickets for the Conference Championship go on sale Wednesday, April 26 at 9:30 a.m. through the Grant Thornton Box Office. Stay tuned to the Petes Twitter, Facebook, and website in the coming days for more information regarding Eastern Conference Finals schedule and opponent.
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