Rohrer’s overtime winner lifts 67’s over Firebirds

In a back-and-forth, high-scoring affair at the Dort Financial Center, Friday night, the Ottawa 67’s earned a 6-5 overtime win on the road, against the Flint Firebirds.

Logan Morrison led the way with a goal and three assists, while Jack Beck scored twice, with Anthony Costantini, and Brady Stonehouse finding the other tallies in regulation, before Vinzenz Rohrer crushed the home crowd with an overtime winner. Anaheim Ducks prospect Pavel Mintyukov was also all over the scoresheet, with three assists, including one on the winner, while Max Donoso came up big in net, making 30 saves.

The scoring started early, with the Firebirds striking first, just 7:03 in, on a goal by Coulson Pitre.

It took the 67’s all of a minute and 44 seconds to respond, however. Morrison, slid the puck to Beck, who found Costantini at the point, and a quick shot by the OA defender fooled former Ottawa netminder Will Cranley, tying the game at 1-1.

Flint regained the lead with less than six to play in the first, as Chicago Blackhawks prospect Gavin Hayes made it 2-1.

Ottawa again didn’t let the home side hold the lead for long, finding the tying marker on the powerplay with just under two to go in the frame. Morrison connected with Mintyukov at the Firebirds blue line, and his shot was tipped home by Stonehouse, knotting things up at 2-2.

Riley Piercey made it 3-2 Flint, on the powerplay, early in the second, but Beck’s first of two came on a mad scramble in the goal crease just over 10 minutes later, and he soon gave the 67’s their first lead of the game, as well.

Morrison again found the Flames prospect in the slot, in the period’s waning moments, and Beck made no mistake on the one-timer, giving Ottawa a 4-3 lead.

Another Firebirds powerplay 5:50 into the third period saw Tristan Bertucci tie the game at 4-4, but following the trend, the 67’s retook the lead. Just past the midway mark of the third, Mintyukov made a slick rush into the Flint zone, and dropped the puck to Morrison. The OA forward made it four points on the night with a laser of a shot, short side on Cranley, and the highlight reel goal gave the 67’s a 5-4 advantage late in the contest.

As has been the theme of late for Ottawa, this game would find a way to go beyond regulation. With the net empty for the extra attacker, and the clock reading “00:46”, Bertucci tied the game for the Firebirds, sending these two teams to overtime.

The high-scoring game was capped off in fitting fashion, with Mintyukov hitting Luca Pinelli in stride, and his perfect drop pass landed on the stick of Rohrer. With all kinds of time in the slot, the Montreal Canadiens draft pick potted the game winner with a beautiful shot, earning a 6-5 walk-off win for the 67’s.

Ottawa will be right back at it tomorrow, stopping in on the Saginaw Spirit at 7:00pm.

Game Notes:

• Jack Beck recorded his 10th multi-point effort of the season, in 23 appearances.
• Jack Matier extended his point streak to three games with an assist.
• This was Vinzenz Rohrer’s second overtime winner of the season.
• Rohrer, Anthony Costantini, and Brady Stonehouse have each scored in back-to-back games.