Belleville Bulls Vs Ottawa 67's February 15, 2012

Belleville Bulls Vs Ottawa 67's February 15 , 2012

Before Wednesday nights game we asked how would the Belleville Bulls answer a 9-0 walloping from the Ottawa 67's on Sunday afternoon ? The loss in the Nation Capitol was the 2nd worst in franchise history. For the record, Belleville's worst defeat ever was also at the hands of the Ottawa 67's, a 10-0 loss in 1997.

As the season draws closer to the end with every game, the Bulls are already in playoff mode. After the Jan 28th 5-4 OT win over the Sarnia Sting, Belleville's Coaching staff broke the season down in to three 7 game series, hopeful that if they win 4 out of each 7, and maybe a few more, they would be in a playoff spot come March 19. Since then the Bulls have gone 3-2, and with a win tonight they could win the first 7 game break down, with a loss Friday night in Oshawa becomes in more of a must win game.

Unless BEL and OTT meet in the playoffs, this would be the 8th and final meeting between these clubs this season, the 67's have owned the Bulls this year. They lead the season series 6-1 coming in, having out scored Belleville 35-14 in the process

The Bulls would look for Malcolm Subban to tend the cage, and the 67's called on import Petr Mrazek. Scratches for the home team would all be injury related, John Chartrand, Micheal Curtis, who we found out before the game will miss a few weeks with a shoulder injury, Jason Shaw and Cater Sandlak. The visitors would be with out Bull killer Dalton Smith, Jake Cardwell and deadline acquisition John McFarland, who will the rest of the season.

The game started okay for Belleville they were taking shots and generating some chances and played well for most of the 1st , at 15:48 Michal Cajkovsky scored his 3rd on the season from Steven Janes and Sean Monahan to give OTT a 1-0 lead. Just over a minute later at 17:05 Tyler Toffoli was left alone and he netted his 41st of the season to give the 67's a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. There were no penalties in the 1st and Belleville was out shot by Ottawa 13-9. This season OTT has out scored BEL 17-3 in 1st periods.

In the 2nd Ottawa took some early penalties and The 19th ranked PP in the OHL made them pay, twice. The first goal on a 5 on 3 was scored by Danill Zharkov, his 17th from Steven Silas and Brendan Gaunce. The goal that tied the game 2-2 was scored by Silas(4th) at 7:20 with Gaunce and Joesph Cramarossa getting helpers. Then Belleville started turnover the puck, something you cant do Vs the 67's because they will make you pay. Remy Giftopoulos scored his 8th and 3rd against Belleville to give Ottawa a 3-2 advantage at 12:19 from Shane Prince to retake the lead. And just when you think the PP is rolling the Bulls give up a Shorty to Sean Monahan his 30th on the year at 14:40. The East Division leaders were not done there, as soon as the same penalty expired, Nicholas Foglia slipped his 8th over Subban's glove to give OTT a 4-2 lead to end the 2nd. Belleville out shoot Ottawa 21-8 in the period but were out scored 3-2.

Belleville needed a big 3rd , and right out of the gate at the 2:00 minute mark Austen Brassard(27th) from Gaunce and Adam Payrel cut the lead to 5-3. Janes did like that and restored Ottawa's three goal lead when he scored at 5:06 from Toffoli and Cody Ceci. At 10:09 Bulls rookie Jordan Subban scored his 4th from Gaunce and Jake Worrad, but that was all she wrote for the Belleville Bulls and they lost to the Ottawa 67's 6-4. Belleville out shot Ottawa 13-4 in the period and 43-25 in the game , Bulls PP was a nice 2/4, and the PK went 3/3.

3 Stars: 1-BEL Brendan Gaunce (4A)2-OTT Nicholas Foglia(1G 1A)3- OTT Sean Monahan (1G 1A GW)