Puck luck and hockey gods
Puck luck has reportedly been a factor through the first three games of the Ontario Hockey League playoff series between the Niagara IceDogs and Ottawa 67’s.
According to the Ottawa Citzen, the 67’s could have taken Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series on the road in Niagara. Instead, “puck luck” was on the side of the IceDogs, who took both games to open up a 2-0 series lead.
Then in Game 3 on Easter Monday in Ottawa, the 67’s had “puck luck” on their side en route to a 4-2 win over the IceDogs.
Ottawa won Game 3 and reduced Niagara’s series lead to 2-1 despite a first period that 67’s coach-general manager Jeff Brown said “was as bad as we’ve played in months.
“It’s funny how the hockey gods work,” Brown said. “You play your hearts out for two games, you don’t get rewarded, then you come home and you play terrible like we did in the first period — and we end up winning the game.”
67’s workhorse defenseman Jacob Middleton agreed with his coach.
“We couldn’t get a bounce (in Games 1 and 2) and we were working our tails off. (In Game 3) we come out flat and what do we have, two goals on three shots (in the first period.) It’s funny how it works, but we’re happy with the outcome for sure,” said Middleton.
Game 4 in the series is set for Wednesday in Ottawa.
PHOTO: Ottawa goalie Leo Lazarev makes a save against Niagara forward Brendan Perlini in Game 3. Perlini, who has Sault Ste. Marie roots, has two goals in the series to date.(Photo by Tony Caldwell/Postmedia.)
The puck stops with Leo!
…cant wait for Game # 4 tomorrow. Go ’67s!