Dec 17 / 2011 -Belleville Bulls Vs Plymouth Whalers

December 17 2011- Plymouth Whalers Vs Belleville Bulls

Coming in to tonight's tilt, both teams where on streaks, Plymouth had won 5 in a row & Belleville had lost 4 in a row. The Bulls where looking to put an end to both of those streaks to go in to the break on a high note. Plymouth Whalers GM/Coach and former Belleville Bull Mike Vellucci has his team playing great this year, good enough to be ranked 5th in the CHL, and with 5 players going to the WJC with 4 different countries it shows. Bulls Coach/GM George Burnett is also away at the WJC with Team Canada.

The Bulls came out flying and scored at the 0:48 mark of the 1st. Austin Brassard with his 14th from Adam Payrel and Micheal Curtis ,the Bulls where rolling for the first half of the period. The second half of the 1st was a different story, The Bulls started to stand around in their own end , giving the Whalers to much space & time, eventually leading to a Whalers goal at 17:53, Danny Vanderwiel with his first in the OHL, assisted by former Bull Andy Bathgate and Nick Malysa . The 1st period came to end with the shots 13-12 in Belleville's favor, but Plymouth was carrying the momentum. The period had a real nice pace to it with No penalties, and both Malcolm Subban and his counter part Matt Mahalak were sharp. With a slight edge to Subban based on the quality of shots he faced.

Plymouth started the second the same way they ended the first, they where really buzzing & the Bulls where having a hard time handling the fore check. Any shots that Belleville took early where long & from the outside. Malcolm Subban was the reason that Belleville inability to stop the pressure, wasn't exploited . Stopping Former Bull Alex Aleardi in close. At 4:25 Bulls Defence men Brady Austin took the games first penalty for high sticking. The Bulls came in to the game killing penalties at a 84.8% clip good for 4th in the OHL. After a successful kill, Bulls rookie forward Daniil Zharkov fired home what would prove to be the game winner and his 14th goal in his 16th game unassisted to give the Bulls a 2-1 lead. At 7:29. Shortly after the goal Plymouth's F Tom Wilson was stopped on a partial break a way by Bulls rookie defence men Jordan Subban. At 16:45 Belleville's "Grind Line" and best line of late was doing there thing and after some nice work by Garrett Hooey, Bellevile extended there lead to 3-1 on a goal by Dylan Corson, his 2nd from Scott Simmonds & Brady Austin. Belleville was skating and went on the PP at 19:30 after a high sticking infraction by Whalers F Tom Wilson. The 19th ranked PP, went to work for the first time against the 3rd ranked PK. Bulls looked better in the first half of this PP then they have in the last four games (1 for the last 23). After 40 minutes the Bulls lead 3-1 and out shot the Whalers 16-9, and have the lead in shots 29-21.

The Bulls started the 3rd on the PP, the Bulls where unable to score but created some nice chances, right after the failed PP Micheal Curtis had a great chance, but Matt Mahalak made his best stop of the game, to keep the Bulls lead at 3-1. At 2:55 Hooey takes an interference penalty and the Bulls kill an other one. After a big hit by Wilson on Bulls captain Luke Judson, Bulls overage player Adam Payrel scores his 11 and his first in 5 games unassisted at 6:35, to make it 4-1. Right after the goal at 6:50 Plymouth's F Cody Payne took an interference penalty of his own. again the Bulls PP doesn't score but is setting up and getting some nice chances, all because they are shooting the puck ,something they have not been doing as of late. At 9:09 of the third the Bulls tally there fifth goal to take a 5-1 lead, D-Man Brady Austin with his second goal of the season and second point of the night from Belleville native Jason Shaw and Micheal Curtis. The Assist was Curtis' second point of the night. Just pass the half way mark of the period Wilson of Plymouth and Bulls Brassard drop the mitts and have a spirited bout with both guys throwing loads of punches.Whalers F Jason Devane went off for holding at 12:17 followed by 2 calls against the Bulls forcing them to kill an extended 5 on 3.The Penalties by Brendan Gaunce( 13:20 Roughing)and Jason Shaw( 13:32 Delay of game). The Whalers out shot the Bulls 13-11 in the final frame but couldn't beat Malcolm Subban,

This was a good game by Belleville winning 5-1 and out shooting Plmouth 40-34. As the norm Belleville's goal tending and PK was strong going 4/4 on the night. The PP didn't score going 0/4 , but was better and the lack of production didn't hurt them like it has been on the 4 game losing streak. Three Stars where swept by the Bulls with honers going to 1-Dylan Corson 2- Adam Payrel 3- Austin Brady, I'd give Honorable mention to Malcolm Subban and Whalers forward Tom Wilson. Attendence was recorded at 2500.