Three OHL teams are on the brink of elimination after losing Tuesday
Tuesday night featured three OHL teams looking to push their opponents to the brink of elimination after winning their home games. Although Oshawa, London, and North Bay all skated to victories, two games needed overtime to settle things while the other was a nail-biter in the third.
All three series could wrap up tonight. Here's a recap of what transpired Tuesday night:
Oshawa vs Ottawa - Game 3
For the third straight game, Ottawa scored the opening goal of the hockey game. They got reinforcements on the blueline with the return of St. Louis prospect Matthew Mayich after he finished serving his three-game suspension. He made his presence known with his physical play immediately in the first period and his ability to box out the front of his net.
Collin MacKenzie needed a bounce-back game and he delivered, making a couple of ten-bell saves in the second frame, and stopped 39 of 42. 2024 NHL Draft prospect Henry Mews was the best player on the ice, showcasing his offensive acumen and instincts with a goal and two assists for the 67's.
The Generals carried the pace of play for most of the third. Defensemen Connor Punnett and Ben Danford scored to edge their team on top 3-2 before Maple Leafs prospect Braeden Kressler knotted things up to force overtime.
Danford got called for interference in overtime, giving the 67's a glorious opportunity to get their first win of the series. Off the ensuing faceoff, a perfect shot-pass by Samuel Mayer to Kressler was redirected off the post. Later in the period, Oshawa breaks in on a 2-on-1 and Connor Lockhart goes upstairs over MacKenzie to give the Gens a 3-0 series lead.
London vs Kitchener - Game 3
"We're really excited to be coming back home. We love playing at home, we have the best fans and it's time to show," said Kitchener Head Coach Jussi Ahokas ahead of game three against the London Knights. Mitchell Martin returned to the Rangers lineup for the first time since Mar. 9.
London struck first when No. 7-ranked by NHLCS amongst North American Skaters, Sam Dickinson walked in and scored 15 seconds into the game. The Knights added another in the first and Winnipeg Jets prospect Jacob Julien scored two in the second to give his team a commanding 4-1 lead.
With everything looking bleak for the home team, Kitchener was given a lifeline when London became undisciplined. Kaleb Lawrence was given a game misconduct for a check to the head on Simon Motew. On the five-minute major penalty, Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Max McCue threw an unnecessary blindside hit, putting his team down another man.
Seattle Kraken prospect Eduard Šalé made London pay, making it a 4-3 game, and momentum now in Kitchener's favor. The Rangers pounced to start the third. Cameron Mercer scored his first of the playoffs, erasing London's three-goal lead.
Jacob Julien completed the hat trick, displaying excellent patience to tuck the puck around Parsons after a feed from Philadelphia Flyers prospect Denver Barkey. Barkey had himself a game with three assists in this contest. Isaiah George added an empty netter for a 6-4 final. London now leads Kitchener 3-0 in the series.
Easton Cowan's point streak finally came to an end Tuesday, ending his run of 42 consecutive games with a point.
North Bay vs Sudbury - Game 3
The Highway 17 battle headed west to Sudbury where the Wolves dug in to find ways to get pucks past the Goaltender of the Week, Mike McIvor. Sudbury went back with Carolina Hurricanes prospect Jakub Vondras in net, which means it was a rare battle between two right-handed catching netminders.
It was a frantic and action-packed opening period. North Bay scored two in the first five minutes including a slick through-the-legs goal from Dalyn Wakely. The Wolves responded to much of the home crowd's delight, scoring three unanswered and heading into the intermission up 3-2.
The second period was all Sudbury, outshooting North Bay 12-0 and adding to their lead with a couple of firsts of the playoffs from Chase Coughlan and hometown kid Zacharie Giroux.
North Bay entered the third period down 5-2 and outshot 27-7 in the game. Justin Ertel scored on a shorthanded breakaway early in the period before the Battalion capitalized on two late powerplays to tie the game up and force overtime.
Right before the end of the third, San Jose's top prospect and star player for Sudbury, Quentin Musty went into the boards awkwardly after getting a cross-check from Justin Ertel. He would need help off the ice but did return in the overtime period.
In overtime, after McIvor came up with some big saves for his team, Owen Van Steensel found Wakely somehow unguarded in the slot for the game-winner. Wakely now leads the OHL Playoffs in goals with nine.
Related: London, Saginaw, and North Bay Each Skated to Victories in Game One at Home in Round Two
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