January 4 2011 - Belleville Bulls Vs Oshawa Generals Game Report

January 4 2011 - Belleville Bulls Vs Oshawa Generals Game Report

The Bulls came in to this game on a mini 2 game losing skid, with an OT lose to Sudbury, & a New Years Day defeat to Brampton. The Bulls were looking to get back to the things that made them successful in the first half. Captain Luke Judson said "as a team, we've got to tighten-up defensively & get back into a home ice situation for the playoffs". That would prove to be no easy task with the Generals in town riding a three game winning streak.

Starting his Fourth game in a row with starter Malcolm Subban still nursing a pulled groin. John Chartrand came in to the game sporting 3.47 GAA & a .898 SV%. John has had some early season victories against the Generals. At the other end of the rink former Bulls draft pick Daniel Altshuller with 3.39 GAA & .903 SV% was looking to show the Yardman faithful what they will be missing in what should be a solid OHL career, with Belleville Native Kevin Bailie in the back up role for the Gens.

Both teams looked a little tentative in the first period, both kinda sitting back in a defensive mode waiting for the other to make the first move. Oshawa took three straight penalties in the first and to no ones surprise the Bulls hapless PP made little happen. On a 5 on 3 for a minute plus the Bulls did lots of passing up top but nothing down low and finished the period 0/3 on the PP. At 15:29 Steve Silas took the Bulls first trip to the sin bin for interference, that the 2nd ranked PK (86.1) in the league killed off. Right after Belleville killed the Silas penalty Bulls D-Man Adam Bignell (5'11" 175lbs) tangled with the bigger Scott Sabourin (6'03" 181lbs) in a spirited bout that got the 2549 in attendence on their feet.

Austen Brassard with his 19th from Adam Payrel & Brody Austin on the PP at 3:06 of the second put the Bulls up by 1. Brassard's goal extends his point streak to 8 games. But the lead didn't last long with the Generals answering back just 66 seconds later at 4:12 on the PP with Bignell in the box ,Lucas Lessio with his first of the game to tie things up. Each team took an other penalty in the 2nd and both did a nice job on there respective PK.

In the third the Bulls looked rough only generating 6 shots, being out shot 13-6 and 33-25 for the game. In the third Lessio scored his 2nd of the night and assisted on Sebastian Uvira goal to end the night with 3 points. Oshawa's Daniel Maggio rounded out the scoring with an empty netter to seal a 4-1 victory for the Generals, their 4th in a row.

On a night when the Yardman had a good crowd for a mid-week game was pretty loud thanks in part to Intell carrier night the Bulls couldn't get it going. The PP went 1/6 and the PK was 2/3. It doesn't get easier this week as the Bulls have a home and home with the Division leading Ottawa 67's.