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OHL Ottawa 67's

IceDogs Third Period Rally Steals Game 2 from 67's

March 26, 2016 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Ottawa 67's News Release


St. Catharines, ON - After chasing the lead for three periods in Game 1, the 67's carried the lead for most of the night as they looked to level the opening round series at a game-a-piece. Their valiant effort was undone by a third period rally from the IceDogs giving Niagara a 2-0 series lead that shifts back to The Arena at TD Place for Game 3 on Monday afternoon (3:00 p.m.).

"Our guys played their hearts out," said head coach and GM Jeff Brown following the Game 2 defeat. "We had so many chances, especially in the first period. I can't ask for anymore from my guys."

An impressive opening period it was for Brown's team. Scoring chances were aplenty, Leo Lazarev stood on his head denying all 14 Niagara shots and the 67's carried a 2-0 lead when the period ended. Dante Salituro and Travis Barron scored three minutes apart midway through the period, both netting their second goals of the playoffs.

The IceDogs would break the goose egg just after the six-minute mark of the second period. Shortly after a good penalty kill from the 67's, Brendan Perlini's first of the playoffs got the home side within a goal. That would be all the offense in the period and Lazarev again proved playoff-ready stopping 9 of 10 shots.

It was a wild start to the third period with three goals inside the opening three-and-a-half minutes. Niagara would tie the game 33 seconds into the period, but would find themselves trailing less than two minutes later when Nevin Guy's powerplay marker gave the Barber Poles the 3-2 lead. That lead was short-lived as the IceDogs would pull even one minute later on Christopher Paquette's first of the playoffs.

The game would settle from the frantic start and despite out-shooting the IceDogs in the period, it was Niagara that would find that all-important go-ahead goal through Josh Ho-Sang with less than nine minutes remaining. Perlini's second of the game into the empty net with under a minute to play iced the 5-3 come-from-behind victory for the IceDogs who claimed a 2-0 series lead with the win.

With the series shifting back to Ottawa for Game 3 on Monday afternoon, Brown spoke about the need to take advantage of playing at TD Place.

"We've got to go home and hold serve and then worry about the rest of the series. Right now its all about Monday. We have to win on Monday. It's the most important game of this series."

Ottawa will continue their playoff run when they host the IceDogs March 28 (Game 3) and March 30 (Game 4) at The Arena at TD Place. 67's playoff tickets for the opening round are available at Ottawa67s.com or by calling 613.599.FANS

Youth hockey players in the Ottawa-Gatineau region can obtain free tickets to any 67's regular-season home game through the 67's Prospects program. Visit the 67's Prospects website for details, or call 613-232-6767, ext. 1.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 26, 2016


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