OHL
John Tavares got the best of Logan Couture for charity and when it counted Friday night.
Tavares’ Oshawa Generals defeated the Ottawa 67s 5-3, and during the first intermission, Tavares beat Couture in a head-to-head shootout competition to raise money for the charities of their choice.
It was done in tribute to a similar one held between two of the league’s top players in 1978 when Wayne Gretzky, then with the Soo Greyhounds, took on Ottawa’s Bobby Smith.
Tavares scored two goals and added an assist as the Generals overcome a late deficit. The league’s scoring leader notched his 19th and 20th goals of season before setting up Ryan McGinnis for the winner after the Generals (12-5-0-1) trailed 3-2 with less than six minutes to play.
“There’s no doubt he knows where the puck is and he’s conscious of everyone on the ice. He is a special player,” 67′s coach and general manager Brian Kilrea said of Tavares.
Brett MacLean had an empty net goal and three assists and David Jarram also struck for Oshawa, which has won three straight. Daryl Borden finished with 41 saves.
Matthieu Methot, Thomas Kiriakou and Thomas Nesbitt replied for the 67′s (7-9-0-2). Adam Courchaine made 33 saves.
Elsewhere in the OHL, it was: Plymouth 3 Mississauga 0; Owen Sound 3 Guelph 2 (OT); Kitchener at Kingston (ppd); London 4 Barrie 3; Sault Ste. Marie 5 Erie 3; Sudbury 4 Brampton 3 (OT) and Sarnia 6 Saginaw 4.
At Ottawa, each of the players were scheduled to take five attempts at the other team’s starting goaltender and Tavares, representing the Special Olympics Foundation, needed just four chances to outscore Couture, shooting for the Canadian Cancer Society, 3-1.
They’ll do it again when the teams play Dec. 1 at Oshawa.
Both teams donated $1,000 to the winning charity and $500 to the losing one, plus the shirts off the players’ backs, which will be auctioned off at a later date.
Plymouth 3 Mississauga 0
At Plymouth, Mich., Jeremy Smith turned aside 37 shots leading the Whalers (11-6-1-0) to a whitewash over the Majors (7-9-1-0).
Owen Sound 3 Guelph 2 (OT)
At Guelph, Ont., Scott Tregunna scored the overtime winner as the Attack (7-12-1-0) edged the Storm (8-9-3-0).
Kitchener at Kingston (ppd)
At Kingston, Ont., the Frontenacs’ game with the Rangers was postponed due to problems with the ice-making equipment at the Memorial Centre. It has been rescheduled for Saturday, Dec. 8.
London 4 Barrie 3
At London, Ont., Philip McRae scored a goal and registered three assists as the Knights (11-8-0-0) edged the Colts (11-9-1-0).
Sault Ste. Marie 5 Erie 3
At Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Chris MacKinnon scored two goals and registered an assist as the Greyhounds (15-4-1-0) beat the Otters (3-15-1-0).
Sudbury 4 Brampton 3 (OT)
At Sudbury, Ont., Matt Dias scored the overtime winner as the Wolves (6-14-0-0) edged the Battalion (10-7-1-2).
Sarnia 6 Saginaw 4
At Sarnia, Ont., Ryan Berard scored twice to lead the Sting (12-8-0-0) to victory over the Spirit (6-9-2-1).
Source: OHL: Generals too much for 67s
