After losing game one to the regular-season champion Ottawa 67s 4-2 on Friday, the Peterborough Petes have evened the series at 1-1 with a 2-1 win at the TD Place on Sunday afternoon.
The first goal occurred during a four-on-four. Petes goaltender Michael Simpson made a difficult save with heavy traffic in front in point-blank range. This resulted in an odd-man rush as J.R. Avon fed Brennan Othmann for a 1-0 lead. That resulted in the period’s only goal.
Peterborough kept their foot on the gas as 30 seconds in, the Petes won the faceoff where Gavin White slapped one home from the point with a screen to make it 2-0. Simpson had stopped all 23 shots to this point, looking for the first playoff shutout of the season.
Peterborough clamped down defensively, reducing Ottawa to three shots in the period. The 67s pulled their goalie late in the game and scored a goal just 87 seconds left in the game. Jack Matier took a swipe at a loose puck after the faceoff draw in the Petes zone that snuck through Simpson but the Petes hung on for a 2-1 win.
Simpson and Othmann earned first and second star of the game honours with Matier earning the third star for Ottawa.
The Petes are on home ice at the Peterborough Memorial Centre Tuesday for game three, looking to take a series lead for the first time against Ottawa.
Fans are encouraged to wear white for the game for a ‘white out’ with exclusive playoff rally towels provided. The move is to show encouragement for the home team during the playoffs. The tradition began in 1987 by the Winnipeg Jets as a form of intimidation while displaying home team support.