67's Beat Generals To Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

Filip Ekberg with the puck balanced on his stick. The Swedish forward has performed very well for Ottawa in the second half of the season [Image by Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images].

You can never predict what will happen in junior hockey. The truth is, that is what makes it one of the most interesting levels of the sport to watch.

Going into last night's game against Oshawa, Ottawa sat ninth in the Eastern Conference, four points behind the North Bay Battalion.

Ottawa's playoff hopes looked to be dashed after they picked up just one point out of six playing against Peterborough twice and North Bay once last week.

Niagara IceDogs Under Investigation For Cultural Review On Wednesday, Mar. 12, TSN's Senior Correspondent Rick Westhead reported that the Ontario Hockey League has hired a Toronto law firm — Turnpennery Milne LLP — to conduct a cultural review of the Niagara IceDogs.

However, the 67's went toe-to-toe with Oshawa for 60 minutes and snagged a valuable two points by beating one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference 3-2.

The lack of Nashville Predators prospect Andrew Gibson and New York Islanders prospect Calum Ritchie certainly helped Ottawa during the game. Additionally, Beckett Sennecke was ejected from the game for a slewfoot early in the second period. That left the Generals without three of their top players.

Swedish import player Filip Ekberg played a huge role in the game, picking up a goal and an assist to extend his current point streak to seven games. He has been one of Ottawa's most important players during the last couple of weeks, scoring 13 points in his last 10 games.

Goaltender Collin Mackenzie also had a strong performance, making 25 saves on 27 shots during the contest. It was a great bounceback game for Mackenzie after a difficult outing on Wednesday when he allowed four goals against Kingston.

It was Columbus Blue Jackets prospect and team captain Luca Pinelli who scored the game-winner halfway through the third. He also assisted on Ryan White's first OHL goal resulting in a two-point performance.

The win is all the sweeter for Ottawa as North Bay was pummeled by Kitchener 6-0 on the same night. This means Ottawa now trails the Battalion by just two points.

While hope remains alive in Ottawa, the road ahead is still incredibly difficult. They face Kingston on Sunday in their last home game this season before going on the road for games against Niagara, Erie and Brantford.

Ottawa needs to find at least two points in their remaining four games to catch North Bay, who also have a very difficult final four games. They play Barrie on Sunday followed by contests against Oshawa, Niagara and Sudbury. The bright side for the Battalion is they play three of their remaining four games on home ice.

The race will likely go right to the end. Who knows, we could even end up with a game 69 if things fall just right.

Topics

Ireland beat Italy to keep faint title hopes alive

Ireland hold off a spirited Italy to secure a bonus-point win in Rome and keep alive their faint hopes of winning a third consecutive Six Nations.
Yahoo Sports - 8h
Think before you ink: 20 tips for beautiful tattoos you’ll never regret – from the professionals

How do you choose a design you will love for life? And what can you do to cover up an old flame’s name? Top tattooists, including David Beckham’s artist, reveal all. “My customers generally come to ...
The Guardian - 2d
Here's how you can watch Saturday's MSU-Notre Dame Big Ten Tournament hockey game

Michigan State hockey battles Notre Dame on Saturday in the Big Ten Tournament - here's how you can watch this matchup
Yahoo Sports - 15h
What happens to gift cards when a chain like Joann or Dollar General closes stores? Here’s what shoppers can do.

Fabrics giant Joann is closing, and the store has stopped taking gift cards — upsetting many customers. Here’s what shoppers should know.
MarketWatch - 6h
9 quality bank stocks most likely to rise as much as 45% after recent market declines

Recent action shows investors can never really predict how interest rates will move.
MarketWatch - 3d
Gallatin boys, Skyview girls keep repeat hopes alive at State AA

Mar. 14—BOZEMAN — One day down and both defending champions are still alive for a repeat in the AA State Basketball Tournament. Defending boys winners Gallatin held Missoula Hellgate to just 12 ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
I’m a psychologist who studies couples—if you say 'yes' to these 4 questions, your relationship is stronger than most

Psychologist Mark Travers has spent most of his career studying what makes marriages successful. If you answer “yes” to each of these questions, he says, there’s no doubt that your relationship ...
CNBC - 6d
WATCH: Hockey great Alex Ovechkin making a difference

Alex Ovechkin, one of the greatest hockey players of all time, is approaching Wayne Gretzky's all-time record of 894 goals scored while playing for a great cause.
ABC News - 6d
Who bought this smoked salmon? How ‘AI agents’ will change the internet (and shopping lists)

Autonomous digital assistants are being developed that can carry out tasks on behalf of the user – including ordering the groceries. But if you don’t keep an eye on them, dinner might not be quite ...
The Guardian - 6d

67's Beat Generals To Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

Topics

Related

Ireland beat Italy to keep faint title hopes alive

Think before you ink: 20 tips for beautiful tattoos you’ll never regret – from the professionals

Here's how you can watch Saturday's MSU-Notre Dame Big Ten Tournament hockey game

What happens to gift cards when a chain like Joann or Dollar General closes stores? Here’s what shoppers can do.

9 quality bank stocks most likely to rise as much as 45% after recent market declines

Gallatin boys, Skyview girls keep repeat hopes alive at State AA

I’m a psychologist who studies couples—if you say 'yes' to these 4 questions, your relationship is stronger than most

WATCH: Hockey great Alex Ovechkin making a difference

Who bought this smoked salmon? How ‘AI agents’ will change the internet (and shopping lists)

More from Yahoo Sports

Intriguing former Bengals player cut, heads to free agency

FSU softball sweeps doubleheader from Pitt on alumni weekend

Gallegos scores 24 points as fourth-seeded UC San Diego beats UC Davis 75-66 to claim Big West crown

How Alabama plans to do some “soul searching” after loss to Florida

Lexy Lowry leads BYU on Day 2 of NCAA indoor track championships

More in Sports

Intriguing former Bengals player cut, heads to free agency

FSU softball sweeps doubleheader from Pitt on alumni weekend

Falcons keep Cousins, triggering bonus guarantee

UNLV fires head coach Kruger after four seasons

Smith-Schuster returning to Chiefs, sources say