Published Apr 01, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 1\u00a0hour ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
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Kingston Frontenacs defenceman William Bishop (left) and Ottawa 67’s forward Teddy Spitznagel drop the gloves and trade blows on the opening shift of Game 3 of their first-round Ontaio Hockey League series at Slush Puppie Place. Ottawa beat the Frontenacs 4-1, their 67’s third straight win on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 in Kingston. (Photo by GARE JOYCE\/KINGSTON WHIG-STANDARD\/POSTMEDIA NETWORK)Article content<\/p>\n
For the Kingston Frontenacs, the lesson to draw from their 4-1 loss to the Ottawa 67\u2019s in Game 3 of their playoff series at Slush Puppie Place is well-established cautionary advice: Be careful what you wish for.<\/p>\n
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The Frontenacs played inspired hockey for several weeks down the stretch of the regular season to get the first-round playoff match-up they wanted against Ottawa, the third seed in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n
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But now the 67\u2019s are poised to eliminate sixth-seeded Kingston in the minimum four games when the teams meet in Game 4 at Slush Puppie Place on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Though Games 1 and 2 in the capital on the weekend had some truly tense patches, right day to the last minute of one-goal Kingston loss in the latter, Ottawa never trailed nor felt particularly threatened Tuesday night. The final shots on goal indicated a severe tilt of the ice, 37-18 to the 67\u2019s advantage. Kingston coach Troy Mann suggested the run of play was more even than those numbers, with his stats staff posting scoring chances a 16-9 for Ottawa, but he did admit the visitors had the higher quality of chances.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019ve been having trouble with defensive zone coverage,\u201d Kingston coach Troy Mann said. \u201cI don\u2019t know if it\u2019s because they\u2019re bigger and stronger. Our structure in our end is very good. But we had a hard time generating offence tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Game 3 was a tight checking affair and Ottawa\u2019s defence coverage limited the home team to just two shots on goaltender Ryder Fetterolf in the first period and only 12 in 50 minutes of play, despite chasing a narrow 67\u2019s lead.<\/p>\n
Ottawa\u2019s Spencer Bowes opened the scoring on a breakaway four minutes before the first intermission and his team remained up 1-0 deep into the third period.<\/p>\n
Finnish import centre Jasper Kuhta gave the visitors a 2-0 lead with a powerplay goal, with less than seven minutes in regulation. Kingston forward Alex McLean was in the penalty box with a slashing minor. Kuhta\u2019s goal would stand up as the game-winner.<\/p>\n
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Fifty-eight seconds later Sam McCue gave the visitors a three-goal margin and it felt like Kingston would wilt.<\/p>\n
Kingston rookie defenceman Matthew Henderson scored on a powerplay with less than four minutes to go, but the Frontenacs could get no closer.<\/p>\n
With Kingston pulling their goaltender in the last minute in favour of an extra attacker, Nic Sima scored on an empty net to salt the wound.<\/p>\n
In the run-up to Game 3, speculation in Kingston focused on the team\u2019s goaltending with coach Mann having to choose between his starter in the first two games of the series, Gavin Betts, and backup Matt Minchak, who stopped all 17 shots he faced in Game 2 when he came on in relief of Betts in a 4-3 loss.<\/p>\n
Minchak started four games against the 67\u2019s during the regular season and his record, 0-2-1-1 looks damning without context. It\u2019s easy to throw out the season finale, a 6-1 loss, when the Frontenacs had complete system breakdown late in a meaningless game and the 67\u2019s shelled Minchak with 45 shots.<\/p>\n
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In the shootout loss on Nov. 12, he gave up a goal on 27 shots through 65 minutes and one week later gave up three goals on 29 shots in an overtime loss. The crusher, though, was the 67\u2019s 5-3 victory over Kingston in Ottawa on Dec. 28. Going into that the game Minchak had wrested the No. 1 job from Betts, and earned the lion\u2019s share of starts that month. In the capital, however, Minchak struggle giving up the five goals on 33 shots and thereafter it seemed he lost Mann\u2019s trust, serving as the lightly used back-up the rest of the way despite gaining attention as a prospect for the 2026 NHL entry draft.<\/p>\n
Minchak\u2019s performance against the 67\u2019s on Tuesday night might be enough to draw the assignment again on Thursday. He turned aside a half dozen Grade A chances in the second period and early in the third, keeping his team in spitting distance of tying the score.<\/p>\n
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Mann had to choose between the goaltenders, neither an attractive option based on recent form. The coach had no truly serviceable options when it came to the conspicuous absence of second-line centre Tomas Pobezal, who was scratched from the line for Game 3 with a suspected concussion. Pobezal had scored a goal in Game 1 and was his usual fiesty self in Game 2.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe live together and (Monday) morning Tomas told me he felt sick, so I knew he wasn\u2019t going to play,\u201d said Alex Misiak, another import and Pobezal\u2019s usual running mate on the second line and first powerplay. \u201cIt\u2019s sad that he could not play, but this is hockey and this happens.\u201d<\/p>\n
Left winger Camden McQuaig drew into the line-up but in no way did he serve as a substitute for the Slovak import who centred Kingston\u2019s first powerplay in second half of the season. McCuaig appeared in 17 games for the Frontenacs as a call-up from the Cornwall Colts of the Junior A Central Canada Hockey League. He played limited minutes and just two shifts in the first having after making a painful giveaway on an attempted breakout on Minchak\u2019s doorstep.<\/p>\n
Defenceman Lucas Moore was also scratched with a wrist injury but his absence was by no means as consequential as Pobezal\u2019s. Moore usually logs the least amount of ice time among the blueline regulars.<\/p>\n
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