67’s inch closer to clinching a spot in playoffs

Ottawa needs one more point

The Ottawa 67’s secured a precious point on Sunday afternoon to assist their quest for an Ontario Hockey League Eastern Conference playoff berth.

Winger Matt Luff scored 47 seconds into overtime to give the Hamilton Bulldogs a 3-2 victory at FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, but the single point all but assured the 67’s of a place in the post-season.

They sit in sixth place in the East with 58 points, six more than the ninthplace North Bay Battalion, and both teams have three games remaining in the regular season.

That means the 67’s need only one more point or for the Battalion to lose once to clinch, and all three remaining 67’s games will be played at home at TD Place arena: Wednesday afternoon against the Peterborough Petes, Saturday versus the Oshawa Generals and Sunday against the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs have already clinched fourth place and will play the fifth-place Kingston Frontenacs in the first round. The Niagara IceDogs currently hold seventh with 56 points, two behind the 67’s and one ahead of the Sudbury Wolves.

Ottawa could have nailed down its playoff spot, but could not hold on to a 2-1 third-period lead. Matthew Strome had given the home side a 1-0 lead before goals from Artur Tyanulin in the first period and Mathieu Foget midway through the put the 67’s in front.

With Travis Barron sitting in the penalty box for a tripping minor in the third period, Hamilton’s Brandon Saigeon beat Ottawa goalie Leo Lazarev with a shot at 11:29 to tie it up 2-2.

Lazarev stopped 32 of 35 shots, while Hamilton’s Dawson Carty blocked 23 of 25.