Newcomers come up big as Ottawa 67’s defeat Owen Sound Attack

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67’s 6, Attack 4

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The Ottawa 67’s picked up a second straight road win Saturday, and it came due in no small part to their trade deadline acquisitions.

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Braeden Kressler scored his first two goals with Ottawa, Jacob Maillet added his first 67’s goal and Sam Mayer had three assists in a five-goal second period on the way to a 6-4 victory over the host Owen Sound Attack. Goalie Ian Michelone from Kanata secured the win in his debut with the team, turning aside 31 of 35 shots.

It appeared the offence would start early, with Kressler scoring in the opening moments, but the goal was waved off for what was called incidental goaltender interference.

After that break, the Attack opened the scoring courtesy of Ottawa native Ben Cormier at 3:09.

The 67’s didn’t wait long to hit the scoreboard, though, with a Henry Mews shot fooling Carter George at 10:29, sending the two teams to the second period in a tie game.

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Less than five minutes into the middle frame, Maillet made no mistake on a pretty passing play with Mayer and Luca Pinelli during a power play.

Only 49 seconds later, Kressler scored his first with Ottawa, driving home a one-timer with assists by Mayer and Pinelli.

Deni Goure got one back for the Attack, one second before the midway mark, but it wasn’t nearly enough for them to fight back into the game.

On another Ottawa power play, Chris Barlas took the puck after a Brad Gardiner faceoff win and ripped home his fourth goal in as many games for a 4-2 lead.

Ottawa’s power-play success continued, thanks to Kressler. Parked in front of the net, the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect tipped home a shot by Mayer for his second of the game.

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The 67’s weren’t done there, as, with 1:08 to play in the frame, Brady Stonehouse fed Caden Kelly, who had all day to fire his third of the season past George, completing the five-goal frame.

Owen Sound made it a game in the back half of the third period, courtesy of goals by Konnor Smith and Colby Barlow, but it was too little too late, as the 67’s held on for the 6-4 win.

Ottawa’s weekend road trip finale will be a tough test, with a matchup against the league-leading Kitchener Rangers on Sunday afternoon.

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