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The return of captain Luca Pinelli from the Columbus Blue Jackets a day earlier was not enough to make a winner of the Ottawa 67’s in their season opener Friday night.
The 67’s gave the Niagara IceDogs four straight power plays in the second period and paid the price for three of them in the 3-2 loss at The Arena at TD Place.
Pinelli broke a scoreless tie with the 67’s first goal of the season 3:17 into the second period, one-timing a short pass from Cooper Foster, who was located behind the Niagara net.
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The lead was erased one minute and 20 seconds later when Kevin He beat Collin MacKenzie from close range on the power play.
The IceDogs went in front shortly after that on another power-play goal by Mike Levin at the 8:33 mark.
Niagara’s third goal with the man advantage was Andre Loshko with 17 seconds remaining in the second period.
Chris Barlas beat Niagara goalie Owen Flores with a low wrist shot from the left wing faceoff circle at 4:56 of the third to pull the 67’s to within one.
The 67’s outshot the IceDogs 16-8 in a first period and 50-31 on the night.
Game 2 for the 67’s is Sunday in Oshawa.
ICE CHIPS: Among the 67’s scratches were first-round pick Nathan Amidovski and overage defenceman Thomas Sirman. As teams are only allowed to dress three overagers, Sirman was the odd-man out in a group that included MacKenzie, defenceman Matthew Mayich and forward Will Gerrior.
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