Ottawa, ON – The Ottawa Jr. Senators (32-5-4) were riding in on a four-game winning streak, heading into the start of March. Unfortunately, Ottawa loses two games in OT against Nepean on Wednesday, and in a shootout over Rockland. The only regulation loss they had was against Smiths Falls on Saturday night.
Wednesday: Nepean 4, Ottawa 3 (OT)
Ottawa was off to a terrific start in the first 10 minutes by being in the Raiders zone. The shots were 11-1 to start the game. Nepean would score their first goal off a turnover from Code at the blue line and Jack Hillier went up the middle for a breakaway. Hillier scored his 7th of the year as Nepean got on the board first.
Ottawa would score the tying goal, courtesy of Simon Isabelle after Thomas Freel sent the puck in front of the net as Isabelle tapped it home. Ottawa would trail for the second time during the second, as Ryan Liverman passes the puck off a Landry’s skate and through OJS goaltender Collin MacKenzie.
Ottawa would trail 2-1 going into the third period. Jacques would score on the power play at 7:33 of the third. Jack Hillier scored his second of the game which gave Nepean the lead, but Thomas Freel got the game tied at three with under a minute left in regulation.
In the OT frame, Owen Hollingsworth put the puck through the defender’s legs and was able to backhand the puck past MacKenzie to get the game-winner.
Collin MacKenzie made 22 saves in his second start with Ottawa. OJS went 1-for-4 on the power play and outshot Nepean 44-26. Thomas Freel and Simon Isabelle were bright spots for OJS by collecting 1G/1A.
Friday: Rockland 4, Ottawa 3 (SO)
Despite the shots being 10-7 in the first for Rockland, Ottawa played a great first period. The only goal came from Alexander Park from the right point that gave Ottawa the 1-0 lead.
OJS kept up the momentum by getting lots of offensive zone time but goaltender Jack McGovern had some big key saves. Vincent Velocci added his 12th of the year to extend the Ottawa lead at 2-0 after Philippe Jacques passed to Velocci from behind the net.
Rockland would cut the lead to one with 2:12 left in the second from Giovanni Morneau. With seconds left in the second, Braxton Ross took a big hit from Hugo Marcil which led to a lower-body injury. Marcil would get a 5-minute boarding penalty and a game misconduct which gave Ottawa a huge five-minute power-play opportunity.
Ottawa was able to get the lead to 3-1 after a point shot by Bodie Nobes was stopped by McGovern, but James Taylor pots in the rebound to score his second goal of the year. The turning point of this game was when Manny Cabral came out of the penalty and went on a breakaway. Cabral went glove side on OJS goalie Desmarais to cut the lead to one.
With under six minutes left in the third. John Mulvihill’s shot from the right point was tipped in by Patrick Lanthier to tie the game at three. It would need OT, which solved nothing so it went to a shootout. Lanthier scores in the first round, Julian Recine kept the shootout going by scoring in the third round, but reigning February Rookie of the Month forward Gabriel Filion scores in round seven to give Rockland their fourth straight win.
Will Desmarais makes 23 saves in the loss, Ottawa goes 1-for-4 on the power play for the second straight game and were able to outshoot the opposition 40-27. It’s the first time that Ottawa loses a game while leading after two periods of play. OJS loses two straight games for the first time this season.
Saturday: Smiths Falls 5, Ottawa 2
The Jr. Senators would get off to a good start once again with Robbie Stewart scoring the opening goal 1:42 in the first period which gave Ottawa the lead. With nine minutes left, Conor Ronayne scored his 10th of the goal to get the game evened up. Ottawa would score 1:25 after giving up the goal. Thomas Freel picked up his 25th of the year which gave OJS a 2-1 lead after one.
Ottawa outshot Smiths Falls 17-6 in the second, but they couldn’t get anything offensively as Will McEvoy stood tall to make all 17 saves in the second period. Brody Fournier would score the tying goal coming on the power play. Vincent Velocci had a breakaway with 35 seconds left and would draw a penalty shot. Velocci was stopped by McEvoy to keep the game tied at two.
Ottawa outshot Smiths Falls 27-9 in the first 40 minutes of the contest.
Smiths Falls would get their first lead of the game, 53 seconds in from Jacob Lesser. It turned out to be the game-winner. Conor Ronayne scores his second of the game to give Smiths Falls a two-goal lead.
Ottawa would get a power play with under three minutes left in regulation, but Smiths Falls scores shorthanded on an empty net from Sean James. Ottawa would get a late 5-on-3 with under two minutes left in regulation but were not able to capitalize.
Ottawa has not lost three games in a row for the first time this year. Ottawa led the shot count against Smiths Falls 36-18. Ottawa goes 0-for-5 on the power play. Philippe Jacque had his 19 game point streak snapped. It’s the first time that Jacques was held pointless since November 17th against Navan.
OJS returns to action on March 9th for a 7:20pm puck drop from the Jim Durrell Recreation Complex when they take on the Renfrew Wolves for the final time this season. Catch all the action with Davide Disipio on the Jr. Senators Broadcast Network at mixlr.com/ojsradio and on Hockey TV.
