67’s snap skid with 4-2 win over Trout

The Ottawa 67’s scored four goals for the second game in a row, Sunday afternoon, and this time got the win.

Ottawa’s four-game losing streak came to an end in their final game of a three-in-three weekend, with a 4-2 road victory over the Mississauga Steelheads. Vinzenz Rohrer, Luca Pinelli, Anthony Costantini, and Brady Stonehouse supplied the offence for the Barber Poles, with Max Donoso made 29 saves, to pick up his 22nd win of the campaign.

The first half of the game was entirely scoreless, before Ottawa got on the board shortly after the midway point of the second period. Matthew Mayich connected with Thomas Sirman skating in over the Mississauga line, and he patiently waited to fire the puck across the ice to Rohrer. The Montreal Canadiens prospect blasted home the one-timer for his 13th of the season, and first since returning from a scary injury suffered on January 11, for a 1-0 Ottawa lead.

It was only a little over four minutes later that the 67’s added to their lead. With possession in the offensive zone, Nashville Predators pick Jack Matier made a slick play to cut to the net, and throw the puck on goal, where Pinelli was parked on the doorstep to cash in on the rebound, and the 2023 NHL Draft eligible forward made it 2-0.

Just 1:32 after the Pinelli marker, Cooper Foster fed Frankie Marrelli at the point, and he went “D-to-D” for Costantini, whose quick wrister from the point fooled Steelheads netminder Alessio Beglieri, giving Ottawa a three-goal lead.

The Trout got one back late in the frame, on Stevie Leskovar’s first OHL goal, and on an extended powerplay with 1:46 to go in the third, James Hardie made it a one-goal game.

Mississauga launched a furious rally to tie the game in the dying moments, highlighted by a Hardie shot ringing off the crossbar, but Stonehouse potted an empty-netter from a seemingly-impossible angle with 56 seconds to play, capping off a 4-2 Ottawa victory.

The 67’s will look to stay in the win column, with a 7:00pm visit to the Flint Firebirds on Friday.

Game Notes:

• The Steelheads had five powerplays, to Ottawa’s zero.
• Luca Pinelli has now scored in back-to-back games.
• Anthony Costantini snapped a 20-game goalless drought.
• Brady Stonehouse leads the 67’s with 25 goals on the year.