Ottawa 67's Endure Third Straight Loss in Head-Scratching OHL Matchup
The Ottawa 67's are facing an unexpected slump after dropping their third consecutive game, marking the first time they have lost three in a row since October. This recent setback has seen their record fall to 38-13-3, pushing them into third place in the Ontario Hockey League's Eastern Conference.
Confusing Penalty Call Alters Game Dynamics
In a Monday night clash at TD Place, the Ottawa 67's fell 8-5 to the Barrie Colts in a game that featured a perplexing turn of events. With the score tied 3-3 early in the third period, Ottawa overager Cooper Foster was assessed a double high-sticking minor. As the first penalty wound down, former 67's centre Brad Gardiner capitalized on a breakaway to score his second goal of the day, while Ottawa defenceman David Bedkowski was called for slashing from behind.
Referee Tyson Stewart, who was in the process of signaling a penalty shot, sent Bedkowski to the penalty box after the goal, leaving the 67's two men short. This decision led to quick goals by Kashawn Aitcheson and Emil Hemming, extending Barrie's lead to 6-3 and shifting the momentum decisively.
Rule Interpretation Sparks Befuddlement
The confusion stemmed from the application of OHL rules. According to league regulations, only the remaining time on Foster's initial minor penalty was nullified when Gardiner scored. The penalty shot call was converted into a slashing minor for Bedkowski, a move that would not have occurred if Barrie had not already been on a power play. In a 5-on-5 scenario, Bedkowski would have simply returned to the bench instead of serving time in the box.
Ottawa 67's coach Dave Cameron was unavailable for comment post-game, but he did not appear to contest Stewart's ruling during the match.
Valiant Comeback Effort Falls Short
Despite the setback, the Ottawa 67's mounted a spirited comeback attempt. Veteran defenceman Frankie Marrelli celebrated his 20th birthday by scoring his seventh goal of the season with a blast from the point, cutting the deficit. Shortly after, Jasper Kuhta added his 27th goal off a deflection, bringing the score to 6-5.
However, the rally ultimately fell short. After pulling goalie Ryder Fetterolf for an extra attacker with 1:52 remaining, Aitcheson scored his second goal of the game into an empty net just five seconds later. Cole Beaudoin of Kanata then sealed the victory with an additional goal, capping off a four-assist performance.
Implications for the OHL Standings
This loss has significant implications for the Ottawa 67's playoff positioning. They now trail the Barrie Colts (37-11-6) by one point and the conference-leading Brantford Bulldogs (38-8-8) by five points in the Eastern Conference. The team will need to regroup quickly to halt their slide and reclaim momentum as the OHL season progresses.
