Belleville Bulls Weekend Review Feb 10-12, 2012

"2 out of 3 ain't Bad"

This weekend started off great for the Belleville Bulls with a road win over division rival the Kingston Frontenacs, followed by a really good team effort in a home win over the only team Coach George Burnett has coached to an OHL Championship, the Guelph Storm , but ended the way every game in the Nations Capitol has since November/2008 with a loss to the Ottawa 67's.

Belleville Bulls @ Kingston Frontenacs, Friday February 10 2012

On Friday night in Kingston, the Belleville Bulls started Malcolm Subban for just the 2nd time in 2012. The Frontenacs countered with work horse Igor Bobkov.

The 1st period seen Belleville out shoot Kingston 16-9. Both Subban & Bobkov made some huge saves to keep the game scoreless until 12:46 when Austen Brassard scored his 26th from Brendan Gaunce & Micheal Curtis on the PP, after Jack Nevins took a 4 minute minor for high sticking Bulls Captain Luke Judson. Not to be left out, the hometown Frontenacs answered the call and tied the game at one, when Ryan Kujawinski scored his 9th from Billy Jenkins & Trevor Morbeck at 15:41. The rookie Ryan Kujawinski with 3 goals in two games with Kingston Vs the Bulls already this season, looks like he might become one of those Kingston players that always seem to have Belleville's number like David Ling, Mike Zigomanis, or Chris Stewart.

No scoring in the 2nd. The Bulls PK had some work, because they took the only 4 penalties in the period. Bobkov and Subban were the story of the game so far With each net minder showing how they give their team a chance to win. Igor ruled the first period and Malcolm the second. Kingston out shot Belleville 13-11 in the frame. Malcolm Subban was the Bulls best penalty killer.

The Bulls started the 3rd the same way they ended the 2nd, in the sin bin. Belleville took 5 straight minor penalties when Garrett Hooey went off for tripping at 3:14, but fear not Bulls fans, Brendan Gaunce scored his 23rd shorthanded at 4:16. Curtis with his 2nd apple of the night and Steven Silas assisted on the goal. Not to be out down and much to the delight of the 3299 fans on hand, Kingston Forward Conor Stokes scored his own short handed goal at 10:42 to tie the game 2-2 and erasing the second lead that the Bulls had in the game. In the third the Belleville Bulls were really pushing and shooting the puck, out shooting the Fronts 17-9, but Igor Bobkov was huge giving Kingston the chance for 2 points and helping send this game to OT.

Over time didn't last long when Jake Worrad scored his 2nd goal of the season, :26 seconds in to give the Bulls the win 3-2 . It was fitting that Worrad scored the winner because it was him that got burned on the tying goal. This was a real good game by both teams. For the second game in a row the Bulls went 7/7 on the PK, a number that Coach Burnett will want to come down, Its great to kill 7, but that speaks as loud for the Bulls PK unit, as it does about the Fronts PP. Igor Bobkov was the story with Belleville out shooting Kingston 45-31.
3 Star = 1- Bulls Brendan Gaunce 2- Frontenacs Igor Bobkov 3- Frontenacs Ryan Kujawinski.


Belleville Bulls Vs Guelph Storm, Saturday February 11 2012.

Saturday night the Belleville Bulls hosted the Guelph Storm on Sticks and Stones night that saw the hometown Bulls wearing limited edition special hospital themed jersey's to be auctioned off after the game with proceeds going to BGH to help purchase a Holmium Laser. Technology that helps eliminates kidney stones.

For the 2705 that turned out , They got to see Malcolm Subban start his 2nd game in a row for the Bulls. Guelph answered with Garret Sparks.

The first period had no scoring with Belleville out shooting Guelph 14-8. Storm goalie Sparks played great, and really, so did the Bulls. The Bulls are a different team with Subban in the net and they were flying around. At 12:06 Bulls D-man Branden Morris dusted it up with Guelph's rookie Tyler Bertuzzi.

The second frame started with the Storm opening the scoring at 1:39 when Jason Dickinson netted his 6th, to put the visitor's up 1-0. The 2nd ended with The Storm out shooting the Bulls 15-10 in the period, but you could feel that the Bulls wanted this game and were going to take it. If not for Sparks covering the angles when The Bulls rang three off the post, the score would have been different.

The Bulls came out and owned the third. Scoring 3 goals to take the lead 3-1 and win the game. The first goal came at 6:44 when Top NHL prospect Brendan Gaunce netted his 24th from Austen Brassard to tie the game 1-1. If Gaunce hadn't scored he would have been awarded a Penalty shot as he was hauled down on the play. Later in the period with the Storm taking a penalty Bulls fans where holding there breath, after Guelph created some chances short handed. Belleville has gave up 6 short handed goals in the last month after only giving up 3 before that. Not wanting to see that happen, Steven Silas who needed a goal as much as any player in the OHL beat Sparks for his 3rd of the season on the PP from Luke Judson and Gaunce at 15:19 to give Belleville a 2-1 one lead. The Bulls weren't finished scoring or on the PP. With less then a minute to go at 19:01 Joesph Cramarossa bagged his 11th, a real beauty on the PP from Adam Peyrel, That goal sealed the deal and Belleville defeated Guelph 3-1. The Bulls went 3/3 on the PK and a encouraging 2/6 on the PP, Belleville out shot Guelph 13-11 in the period and 37-34 in the game. both Goalies were very good and it was reflected in the games 3 stars.
1- Bulls Malcolm Subban 2-Bulls Brendan Gaunce 3- Storm Garret Sparks.


Belleville Bulls @ Ottawa 67's Sunday February 12 , 2012

Put away the Kool & The Gang albums because there would be no Celebration for the Belleville Bulls Sunday afternoon in the Nation's Capitol. Just like every other time since November of 2008, the Bulls would lose to the 67's in Ottawa. Just this time it would be one of the Bulls worst defeats in franchise history. For the record the Bulls loss today had very little to do with goaltender error, this was a team thing. Ever player on the Belleville roster was at least a minus 1. On the other side every Ottawa player on the roster was at least plus 1. The Bulls would start Malcolm Subban, but he would only last 9 minutes giving up 3 goals on 10 shots. In came Charlie Graham and he didn't fair much better, allowing 6 goals on 23 shots.

I'm not going to waste your time telling you how after Shane Prince scored a funny first goal, you could almost see the Bulls drop their collective shoulders and get ready for the spanking Ottawa was going to hand out. I also wont mention how the 67's were winning all the draws, the battles and just played a real good man to man game because they know they are in the Bulls head and were ready to rebound themselves from some recent struggles. We might leave out how OTT had two goals on their first 6 shots. We don't want to talk about how the Bulls allowed our old friend Tyler Toffoil to have three whacks at the puck all alone in front of Subban to score his league leading 41st goal of the season. Belleville also gave up a PP goal in the First. It was 4-0 Ottawa after 20 minutes.

Cue the comeback ? No , not so much. You don't want to hear how Shane Prince scored 2 goals in the 2nd to round out his own hat trick, and give Ottawa a 6-0 lead. Or do you need to find out how the home team rounded out the scoring, with 67's Rookie Sean Callaghan scoring his first (he will never score an easier goal in the OHL) and second goals of his career, 1st one was in the second frame and the 2nd in the last minute of the 3rd to seal the deal 9-0 for the 67's. On a bright note Belleville out shot Ottawa 35-33 in the game, but the last thing we will tell no one is how when called upon Petr Mrazek stood tall earning the shut out. Belleville went 0/7 on the PP and 2/4 on the PK. Good thing Bulls killer Dalton Smith wasn't playing or who knows what the score might have been. 9411 seen the home team win the game and sweep the 3 Stars
1- 67's Shane Prince 2- 67's Sean Callaghan 3rd- 67's Petr Mrazek .
Belleville has been real bad in Ottawa this season being out scored 22-2 in three games
Doesn't get any easier for the Bulls as they return home and prepare for these same 67's on Wednesday night.