The Ottawa Jr. Senators (13-7) get back into the winning column, taking down the Kanata Lasers (11-9-3), 5-4 shootout win inside the Kanata Recreation Complex’s Tom Flood Arena on Thursday.
Jr. Sens were leading 3-2 going to the third period. Conor Smart got Ottawa back up by two (4-2) with his seventh of the year.
Kanata drew a penalty late in the game. Kanata’s Luca Nocita brought Kanata within one and with the goalie pulled and under two minutes left – Trevor Poeze’s second of the game forced overtime.
In the extra frame, Belanger and Cole had two chances to end it but both shots went off the crossbar. Then with seconds ticking down, Ward made an excellent save on Sleeth’s breakaway to force a shootout for the first time this season.
The first three rounds solved nothing for both sides. Owen Cole was up in the fourth round, he skated in on goal, hesitated, then stopped at the crease and went backhand forehand for a highlight-reel goal. This was the shootout winner, as the Jr. Senators gather their ninth win in their last 11 games.
“The first three guys went in, but they were all saying shoot, but I had this move in my back pocket and I’ve used it before. So, I knew going in as long as I faked hard going to the middle I could cut back on him,” said Owen Cole on the shootout winner.
He also collected two assists which extends his point streak to 10 games with 5 goals, 10 assists during that time. He was named first star of the month earlier that day.
“I’ve been working very well with Smarty (Conor Smart), and I got good chemistry going right now, we seem to find each other very well. Even playing with him and Hilton tonight, Hilton creates a little bit more room for us.”
Hilton and Smart each collected 1G / 1A. That line combined for 2G / 4A on the night. Boulerice also extends his point streak to six games after an assist tonight, Walsh tallied two assists and leads the league in goals (14) and points (26).
Ottawa’s next game goes Saturday night at the Jim Durrell Complex when they take on the CJHL’s #1 team in the country in the Brockville Braves. The last time these teams met was when the Braves walked away with a 5-3 victory in Brockville. Dante De Caria will have the call alongside Mason Detre at 7:30. You can catch the broadcast on mixlr.com/ojsradio or watch live on Hockey TV.
