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Ottawa 67′s Travis Konecny undresses defender for beauty goal (VIDEO)

Looking through the lens of the Ottawa 67's scuffling season, the beauty goal Travis Konecny scored on Sunday seems even more special. It is atypical to have a 16-year-old rookie impose his will on a key game with savvy and skill the way the OHL's No. 1 overall pick did Sunday with his game-winner during the 67's 4-2 decision over the Mississauga Steelheads, a team it's trying to bump out of a playoff position.

With Ottawa and Mississauga knotted at deuces with just more than eight minutes left, Konecny skated out of the corner, catching a break when the Steelheads' Bryson Cianfrone passed his off to the defender. Then the 67's beacon deked around defender Nick Zottl and beat goalie Spencer Martin, a Colorado Avalanche pick.

It was imperative for Ottawa to win in regulation; going to overtime would not have done much to close its gap on the Steelheads, who are sitting in the second-last playoff position. It also helped Konecny extend his lead in the Ontario league's rookie scoring race with 19 goals and 57 points over 43 games. There is little doubt he should be the first 67 to be named the OHL's top newcomer since 1987, when Andrew Cassels did so before eventually going on to play more than 1,000 games in the NHL.

Whether Konecny can help Ottawa squeak into the playoffs, even if it's a short stay, will push the argument of whether he can join Connor McDavid, et al., at the head of the NHL draft class of 2015. Ottawa trails both Mississauga and the Niagara IceDogs and also has to play 11 of its last 15 games on the road.

Ottawa, of course, opted for Konecny with the No. 1 pick last season over the high-ceiling 15-year-old defenceman Sean Day, whom Mississauga took No. 4. Both were shaky in their first head-to-head tilt early in the season. For whatever it is worth, Konecny has elevated his game each of the last two times the Ottawas have faced Day and the Steelheads.

(Stick tap: Kathryn Jean, @msconduct.)

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.