Ottawa 67's Face Uphill Battle After Second Playoff Loss to Barrie Colts
The Ottawa 67's find themselves in a precarious position in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs, trailing the Barrie Colts 2-0 in their best-of-seven second-round series after dropping a 5-3 decision on Saturday night at Sadlon Arena in Barrie. Despite showing improvement from their series opener, the 67's couldn't overcome undisciplined play and a potent Barrie power play.
Game Details and Turning Points
Saturday's contest saw the 67's match the Colts shot for shot with 35 each, but special teams proved decisive. The Colts converted two of their four power-play opportunities, while Ottawa went 0-for-3 with the man advantage. The game remained competitive through two periods, with the 67's trailing just 3-2 heading into the final frame.
However, the deficit grew quickly in the third period when Barrie's Emil Hemming beat Ottawa goaltender Ryder Fetterolf with a seemingly harmless shot from the right wing boards just 99 seconds after intermission. Ben Wilmott added his seventh playoff goal to put the Colts up by three, though Frankie Marrelli responded with his first postseason marker at 5:19 remaining to keep Ottawa's hopes alive.
Key Absences and Performances
The 67's were without defenseman David Bedkowski, serving the first game of a two-game suspension for a spearing match penalty in Game 1. His absence forced 16-year-old Jack Johnson into the lineup for his OHL playoff debut, despite having only 10 games of regular-season experience.
For Barrie, Cole Beaudoin opened the scoring with his fifth playoff goal at 7:29 of the first period, slipping the puck through Fetterolf's legs on a breakaway. Calvin Crombie and Carter Lowe also found the net for the Colts. Ottawa's Spencer Bowes and Cooper Foster provided the other 67's goals, with Bowes adding an assist on Foster's tally.
Looking Ahead to Game 3
The series now shifts to TD Place in Ottawa for Game 3 on Tuesday night. The Colts won both of their regular-season visits to Ottawa by three goals each, presenting a significant challenge for the 67's as they attempt to climb back into the series. Ottawa will need to address their penalty issues and find more production from their power play if they hope to avoid falling into a nearly insurmountable 3-0 hole.
The 67's showed flashes of improvement from their series-opening performance, particularly with a stronger start, but ultimately couldn't overcome Barrie's disciplined play and opportunistic scoring. With their season on the line, Tuesday's game represents a critical opportunity for Ottawa to regain momentum before the series potentially returns to Barrie.
