Frontenacs rally falls short as 67’s take game one in high-scoring OHL playoff opener

Late goal by David Bedowski lifts Ottawa to 7-4 win after Kingston battles back to tie game in physical OHL playoff clash

It was a spirited effort by the Frontenacs but the 67s were equal to the task in the opener of their first-round OHL playoff series.

David Bedowski’s goal late in the second period gave Ottawa the lead for good in a 7-4 victory Friday night at TD Place.

The intensity was felt the moment the puck dropped on the opening face-off.

Andre Mondeux and Zach Houben duked it out 3:44 into the game. There were plenty of hits too throughout the game.

Ottawa built a 2-0 lead early in the first period on goals by Filip Ekberg and Spencer Bowes. Nolan Synder would answer for the Frontenacs late in the period to cut into the 67’s lead.

Head coach Troy Mann feels a lot of his players did not expect the game to be as intense as it did.

Down 4-2, Kingston kept clawing their way back eventually tying the game. Two goals in a span of :16, first by Will Bishop followed by Riley Clark, tied it at 4-4.

There were more fisticuffs when Tomas Pobezal and Cooper Foster dropped the gloves late in the second period.

But it was Bedowski’s with :30 left in the period that, according to Mann, really let the air out of the tires.

Ottawa was down a defenseman for much of the game. Kaleb Dietsch received a fighting major and a game misconduct when he went after Nolan Synder after he was penalized for taking an 67’s player into the boards 7:23 into the first period.

The Frontenacs couldn’t do much with a 5-on-3 power play late in the third period. Ottawa would add two late goals to seal the game and take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven.

Mann says his players battled hard in what was a hostile environment.

Pobezal had the other Frontenacs goal while Gavin Betts stopped 24 shots for the Frontenacs. Ryder Fetterolf was equal to the task making 27 saves for the 67’s.

Game two goes Sunday afternoon in Ottawa at 3 pm. Jim Gilchrist will have the call on Upper Canada Fuel and Burner Frontenacs Hockey on New Country 98.9.

Story by Ken Hashizume