Toffoli shines in 67’s playoff preview vs Wolves

Toffoli shines in 67’s playoff preview vs Wolves

Tyler Toffoli scored 4 goals and added an assist to help the 67’s cruise to a 7-3 victory over the Sudbury Wolves.  It looked as if Toffoli was on a mission.  With one game remaining in the regular season, he found himself 2 points behind in the scoring leaders.  After tonight’s game, Toffoli finished with 108 points which was good for sharing the title of top scorer in the OHL with Kitchener’s Jason Akeson.  

As a first round playoff preview, both teams came out ready to play.  Taylor Fielding netted his first OHL career goal on a partial breakaway to open the scoring.  Later in the first period, Travis Gibbons took a puck to the face after it deflected off of a slapshot.  He fell down awkwardly from the impact and ended up having to be helped off the ice as he favoured his right leg.  Gibbons did not return to the game and was sent to be stitched up and get x-rays done.

Just as Remy Giftopolous came of the box to end a Wolves 5-on-3 powerplay, Josh McFadden sends in a floater from the point that deflected off something and in past Petr Mrazek to tie up the game

Early in the second period, the 67’s regained the lead with help from Sean Monahan.  After making a nice move coming off the wing, he roofs it up top and in for his 20th of the season.  Brett Gustavsen added an insurance goal after beating Brendan O’Neill burying his own rebound. The back to back action continued as Michael Sgarbossa slid a rebound in past Mrazek to bring the Wolves within one.  Tyler Toffoli added two goals before the end of the period to allow the 67’s to head to the dressing room with a satisfying 5-2 lead.

To give Mrazek a rest, the 67’s got Shayne Campbell to take over goal duties as the third period began.  He stopped all but one of the 7 shots fired his way.  Toffoli added his hattrick goal just 52 seconds into the period.  At the 4:38 mark, Justin Sefton scored a shorthanded goal to cut the 67’s lead in half.  Toffoli rounded out the scoring with one final goal to finish his 4 tally’s on the night.

These two teams will face off again on Saturday, March 26^th back in Ottawa.  The playoff opener will be played at Scotiabank Place due to a scheduling conflict at the RONA Centre.  

Game notes:

Toffoli and Akeson will both be awarded with the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy (Top Scorer) and the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy (Top Scoring RWer) … Remy Giftopoulos was called up to help the depleted Ottawa lineup.  His Junior A team (Gloucester Rangers) is currently awaiting round 2 of their own playoffs to start … The 67’s were forced to play with 14 players once Gibbons went down with an injury.