Strong third period wasn't enough as Frontenacs drop Game 2 in Ottawa

Vandeberg with 3 points as 67's carry a 2-0 series lead into Kingston Tuesday night.

The Frontenacs limp home after dropping both games of their first-round OHL playoff series in Ottawa.

Special teams was the difference in Game 2 as the 67’s scored twice with the man advantage in a 4-3 victory Sunday afternoon.

Like in Game 1, Game 2 saw plenty of physicality. Riley Clark and Sam McCue dropped the gloves :14 into the game.

The Frontenacs did get on the board first. Former 67 Jack Dever set up Alex McLean in the slot and fired it past Ryder Fetterolf for a 1-0 lead.

Turnovers by Kingston coupled by some pressure from Ottawa enabled to get the 67s back in the game.

Thomas Vandenburg scored on the powerplay to tie it up. Then a bad pass by Andre Mondeux in front of the net allowed Jasper Kunha score giving Ottawa the lead for the first time in the game with 2:29 left in the period.

Frontenacs head coach Troy Mann says their inability to capitalize on their power play chances has hurt them so far in this series.

Ottawa kept the pressure going in the second never allowing Kingston to gain any momentum.

Shaan Kingwell took a feed from Vandenburg and wristed one by Gavin Betts for a 3-1 lead. Then Vandenburg scored his second of the game on the powerplay knocking Betts (21 saves) out of the game. He was replaced by Matthew Minchak (17 saves).

Mann says his team couldn’t respond to the pressure the 67’s were bringing.

The Frontenacs showed some life in the third period.

Aleks Kulemin tipped in a shot from Van Williamson on the powerplay to cut Ottawa’s lead to 4-2. Then Alex Misiak picked up the puck after Tomas Pobezal won the draw and wristed it in to make it a one-goal game.

Kingston’s power play went 1-for-4 in Game 2 and 1-for-7 in the series.

Fetterolf made 20 saves in the win for the 67’s and now take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven.

The series shifts to the Limestone City at Slush Puppie Place. Game 3 goes Tuesday night at 7 pm. Catch all the action with Jim Gilchrist on New Country 98.9 on Upper Canada Fuel and Burner Frontenacs Hockey.

Story by Ken Hashizume