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February 06, 2015

Too little too late; 67's fall 5-2 to Petes despite third period surge

The Ottawa 67’s came into tonight’s game with a big opportunity to gain some ground on the North Bay Battalion and 3rd place in the Eastern Conference, but instead it was another disappointing result that will keep them 5 points back of the Battalion who have 2 games in hand.

Courtesy of Robert Lefebvre / www.icelevel.com

Steven Lorentz led the visiting Peterborough Petes to a 5-2 win Friday night. Lorentz had two goals and two assists including a perfect behind-the-back drop pass to Josh Maguire who scored the eventual game winner midway through the second period. Lorentz goal was the Petes’ lone goal that didn’t involve specialty teams.
 
It was all about specialty teams in the opening frame. The Petes took three straight penalties allowing momentum to tip the 67’s way. With Cameron Lizotte in the box for a check-from-behind, the 67’s capitalized on their second power play opportunity of the game. Travis Konecny fed Dante Salituro with a crisp pass as he found him skating hard towards the net. Salituro made no mistake and shot the puck past Matt Mancina in the Peterborough net.
 
The 67’s were buzzing and led the shot clock 9-3 midway through the first period. It wasn’t until the final three minutes that the Petes would start to turn things around.
 
Caught with too-many-men on the ice, the Petes were given their first man advantage with 2:51 remaining in the opening frame. Steven Lorentz picked up his 5th goal against the 67’s this season deflecting a Michael Clarke shot from the point.
 
The penalties continued to roll in for the 67’s. While Mancina robbed Trent Mallette on a breakaway, not only did Mallette not score, but he got sent off for a high-stick while speeding past defenseman Steven Varga. 67’s coach Jeff Brown wasn’t happy and was given a bench minor resulting in a full 2 minute 5-on-3 advantage where Clarke would give the Petes a big 2-1 lead with 1.3 seconds left in the period.
 
We got ourselves into a big of a hole. We all made mistakes night, myself included,” said Brown who was given the bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct. “It was one of those games where everything that could go wrong went wrong and every time they got an opportunity, they scored and we didn't.”
 
The second period wasn’t much better and the 67’s started to see how this team beat the front runners like the Oshawa Generals and Erie Otters in recent past.

Courtesy of Robert Lefebvre / www.icelevel.com

After that third [goal] went in, three or four [consecutive] shots just bounce right in front of him and he was having trouble corralling it. I knew something was going on,” Brown said about Leo Lazarev who was replaced by Liam Hersbt midway through the second.  

Herbst only allowed one goal – a deflection out front from Greg Betzold – but was untested in the third period.

Down 4-1 and allowing 13 shots on net in the second period, the 67’s came out strong in the final frame. The 67’s started to dictate the play again but Mancina didn’t make it easy as he continued to stand on his head.

Brendan Bell cut the lead in half midway throught the period after Travis Konecny forced a turnover and used his speed and strength to get past fellow 2015 NHL draft eligible prospect Matt Spencer. Konecny flipped Bell a cross-crease pass for his second primary assist of the game.
 
Despite outshooting the Petes 14-2 in the final 20 minutes, the 67’s were unable to capitalize.
 
We had a heck of a third period and held them to one shot, but it was a too little too late and we got ourselves into big of a hole,” said Brown who’s team hit about 3 or 4 posts throughout the game.
 
It wasn’t for a lack for a lack of trying, but the Petes would seal win with an empty net goal from Steven Lorentz.
Courtesy of Robert Lefebvre / www.icelevel.com
 
You can't put 20 minutes together and expect to win. It's about finishing a full 60 minutes and that's what it's all about heading into the playoffs,” said 67’s captain Travis Konecny. “We need to regroup and make sure were ready for the big game against North Bay.”
 
The 67’s are idle tomorrow while they prepare for the North Bay Battalion on Sunday who is right above them in the Eastern Conference standings.
 
The win gives lifts the Petes into playoff contention. They are now tied with the Mississauga Steelheads for 8th in the Eastern Conference. The Petes return home to face Logan Brown and the Windsor Spitfires tomorrow night.

Game summary here.

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