The ice seemed tilted for the Petes, who were blasted with 56 shots to their 19 in a 4-2 defeat to the Ottawa 67’s, extending their losing streak to nine games at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night.
The visiting team wasted no time getting on the board. Less than three minutes into the game, Matthew Mayich blasted a one-timer slapshot from the point that beat Petes goaltender Liam Sztuska for a 1-0 lead.
The Petes were getting outshot 16-8 in the first period but tied the game late as Chase Lefebvre split the Ottawa defence and had a breakaway. He stickhandled the puck a few times before sniping it through on the forehand, beating Collin MacKenzie for a 1-1 tie to end the first frame.
Ottawa struck early in the period again. Just under three and a half minutes in, Caden Kelly took a shot from the point that deflected off teammate Bradley Horner and past Sztuska for a 2-1 lead. Ottawa got more shots this period than the last with 20 while limiting Peterborough to only four as the Petes trailed by one into the final stanza.
The Petes struck first this time, just under seven and a half minutes in as they made the most of their few chances in the game. Peterborough was on the powerplay and had a board battle from behind Ottawa’s net. The puck squirted out in front and Aiden Young pounced on it for a one-timer goal, his first as a Peterborough Pete and the game was tied at two.
Ottawa got a powerplay late in the period and capitalized as a shot from the point was blocked by a Pete. Henry Mews corraled the puck, passed it off to Thomas Sirman who buried the one-timer for a 3-2 lead.
The visiting 67’s tacked on an empty-net goal to round out their 20-shot period to Peterborough’s seven and leave the Electric City with a 4-2 win.
Peterborough heads to London on Friday to take on their former goalie, Michael Simpson. He has 23 wins, more than any other goaltender in the league. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Budweiser Gardens. Fans can catch the game at the Official Road Game Watch Party at Shoeless Joe’s Peterborough.