Related Stories

SUDBURY - If the Ottawa 67's ever wanted to learn something about themselves, about the character that it takes to overcome adversity ... now would be a good time to start.

The heavily favoured 67's are within one game of playoff extinction after a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to the Sudbury Wolves Tuesday night.

Mike Lomas' goal at 33 seconds of overtime sent the 67's to the dressing room, heads slumped, wondering how they will find the resolve to win the next four games and the series against the stubborn Wolves.

Lomas never saw the puck go into the net.

No matter. The 4,427 thrilled fans at Sudbury Community Arena let him know.

"Honestly, I remember I dumped the puck and (Eric) O'Dell did a great job on the forecheck and (Greg) Jambrosich cut off the puck and got it to me and I shot it and I didn't even see it go in," Lomas said with a wide grin. "I just heard everybody go nuts and before I knew it I was out of breath pinned under a huge pile.

"That goal ranks No. 1 for me for sure."

The Wolves overcame a 4-2 deficit, sending the game to overtime with just 16 seconds left, a power-play goal by defenceman Josh McFadden, to complete his hat trick.

Ottawa coach Chris Byrne was left shaking his head after his team lost its third straight, despite playing its best game of the series.

"It was a tough loss," he said. "I thought our guys played very hard and competed hard all night and did what we asked of them. But it's tough to win a game taking five minors in the third period. That was our undoing. A couple of tough ones there where we put ourselves down and their power play got rolling."

Byrne didn't take issue with the penalty calls, though some in the building thought they were borderline.

"You can whine and cry and talk about things all day, but the referees do their job and coaches do their job and players do their job," he said. "We cost ourselves the penalties."

The 67's came out with a much better effort Tuesday, controlling the first two periods by playing physical, containing the high-flying Sudbury forwards and not relying on the outstanding goaltending of Petr Mrazek to bail them out time and again.

Alain Valiquette finished with 31 saves in goal for Sudbury, while Mrazek blocked 36. The series resumes Thursday in Ottawa where the No.-7 seed Wolves will get a chance to close it out against the No. 2-seeded 67's.