Revamped 67’s stop skid with shootout win over Brantford Bulldogs

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A busy trade deadline paid off for the Ottawa 67’s.

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New additions Braeden Kressler, and Sam Mayer combined for three assists, while the captain Luca Pinelli scored twice, setting up a Nic Whitehead shootout winner, in a 6-5 road victory over the Brantford Bulldogs.

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Collin MacKenzie returned from injury to make 31 saves, and help Ottawa end a six-game losing streak that had been painted by an injury/suspension-depleted lineup prior to Wednesday’s deadline.

Jacob Maillet was also key for the Barber Poles, going 59% at the faceoff dot.

The Bulldogs rode a hot start on home ice to an early lead, with the first of two goals on the night by newly acquired Zakary Lavoie, 11:40 in, on the power play.

It didn’t take long for Ottawa’s own new acquisitions to hear their names called, however. Less than two minutes after the Lavoie marker, Kressler took a Pinelli feed into the offensive zone, and threw the puck on night. Driving the goal was Will Gerrior, who jammed home his career-high 15th of the season, tying the game at 1-1 heading into the second.

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In a reversal of the game’s early fortunes, the 67’s dominated the early goings of the middle period, recording the first seven unanswered shots,  1:54 in, Chris Barlas won an offensive zone faceoff to Brad Gardiner, whose quick shot went off a stick and past Matteo Drobac, making it 2-1.

With the teams playing four-on-four hockey soon after, Mayer chased down the puck to Drobac’s right, and hit Pinelli in the slot with a beautiful no-look pass. The captain made no mistake on his first of two in the game.

Lavoie answered for Brantford, but Pinelli deflected home a Kressler shot on the powerplay 1:18 later, and Ottawa carried a 4-2 lead into the third.

Brantford cut the lead to one early in the third, with a power-play deflection by Lucas Moore.

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Not long after, Luca Testa streaked in on a breakaway, and despite what appeared to be a terrific stick lift by Kimi Körbler, the Bulldogs were awarded a penalty shot, and Testa converted to tie the game.

It wasn’t an even score for long, though, as Barlas continued his red-hot pace since returning from injury. Gardiner dug the puck loose on the forecheck, and found his winger just inside the faceoff dot, who ripped a beautiful shot short side for his third goal in as many games, and a 5-4 Ottawa lead.

As the Bulldogs attempted to rally, they ended up taking a pair of late penalties, but still in the dying seconds, a shot by Daniil Sobolev snuck through MacKenzie, sending the game to overtime.

Though both teams traded glorious chances in the sudden death frame, the game was destined for the dreaded shootout. Cole Brown, and Kressler traded goals to open the skills competition, but both teams went scoreless for the next four shooters each.

Finally, it was Whitehead moving in slowly, and firing a quick shot home to deliver a thrilling 6-5 win for Ottawa.

Weather permitting, they’ll look to make it two straight victories tomorrow afternoon, when they visit the Owen Sound Attack at 4:00pm.

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