Clark completes comeback for 67’s in overtime
It’s all fun and games in overtime for the Ottawa 67’s.
After a penalty to the Oshawa Generals in the extra period, Kody Clark’s power play tally was the difference to vault the Barber Poles past their divisional rivals 2-1 Friday night.
After a quiet first period where both teams registered a combined eight shots, it was the Generals who got on the board first in the early stages of the second period. Kenny Huether sent a backhand shot toward Ottawa netminder Olivier Lafreniere, and the shot caromed off his back into the open net.
That 1-0 score held until the later stages of the game, when the 67’s dug deep in the third period and resiliently tied up the score on a Sasha Chmlevski goal with just under five minutes to play.
The centreman’s fifth goal of the year was enough to send the game to extra time. The 67’s went into overtime undefeated for the season and came out with their record still in tact.
After Ottawa killed off the tail end of a penalty to start the period, Oshawa’s Domenico Commisso tripped up Mathieu Foget in the middle of the ice to put Ottawa’s power play to work.
On the man advantage, Noel Hoefenmayer found Clark with a pass into the right corner. Clark showed patience with a toe-drag on his forehand before wiring a shot through Kyle Keyser for the game-winner at 4:35.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Head coach Andre Tourigny
“It was a really tight game, and I’m really happy with the way we played. Not much happened at first, but when we grind we started to open the play, force the play – offensively nothing happened in the first two periods but that’s okay, our guys stayed with it.”
On Clark… “Did you see his goals on the road trip? Those were huge, goal-scorers goals … he’s at the right place right now. He’s not panicking, he’s confident – but it’s not always going to be like that. I wish he would score every game, but we know that’s not realistic. He has to stick with it and stay patient and confident.”
GAME NOTES
- With an assist on Sasha Chmelevski’s game-tying goal, Travis Barron recorded his 100th career point
- Kody Clark scored for a fourth straight game and now leads the team in scoring with six goals and four assists
- Clark has seven points in his last four games
- The 67’s improved to 4-0-0 at TD Place this season
- Ottawa is 5-1-0 in their last six games
- The Barber Poles are 5-0-0 in Overtime this season (6-0-0 in games decided by OT or a shootout)
- Friday night was Ottawa’s best defensive performance of the season holding the opposition to just a single goal
- The 67’s now have six of their seven victories in extra time, with the only regulation win coming in their home opener over the Erie Otters
67’s single-game tickets start at $12 and are available at Ottawa67s.com/Single-Game-Tickets, by calling 613.232.6767 or in person at The Box Office at TD Place. All minor hockey players part of the 67’s Prospect Program get in for FREE. For more information on the 67’s Prospect Program click here.
