Gens Roll into New Year with Third Win in a Row
Published on January 1, 2012 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Oshawa Generals News Release
Oshawa, Ontario - Make it three in a row! Oshawa continued their winning roll at the General Motors Centre on Sunday afternoon. The Generals defeated Owen Sound 4-3 before a festive New Year's Day crowd of 4,619 in Oshawa. Andy Andreoff and Christian Thomas both had multiple point games in the win. The Gens counted on 4 different goal scorers and 2 power play markers to put them in the winner's circle. Daniel Altshuller made 39 saves for his third consecutive win between Oshawa's pipes.
In the first period, the Generals hit the ice with short, high energy shifts that were committed to winning puck battles along the boards. Daniel Altshuller got the start in goal for Oshawa and made 18 saves in the opening frame. The goaltender's best stop was a tremendous glove save on Devon Rymarchuk who tried to bury a backhand from inside the hash marks.
Oshawa's intense start experienced a setback when Owen Sound cashed in on the power play. Jay Gilbert released a pinball shot from the point that Michael Halmo redirected in for a 1-0 Owen Sound lead.
Good karma caught up to the Generals at 13:50. Lucas Lessio converted on a 5-on-3 to score his team leading 18th goal of the season. Oshawa's number 1 setup man, Andy Andreoff, walked in from the corner and fired a cross-crease-pass that Lessio one-timed right through Attack goaltender, Scott Stajcer. The game was tied at 1.
The Attack were given a 5-on-3 of their own, but Andreoff, JP Labardo and Daniel Maggio ensured that the score remained even. This three man unit did a brilliant job of getting sticks in passing lanes and diffusing what was clearly a dangerous situation.
That set the table for an Oshawa power play goal scored by none other than Andreoff himself who has been Mr. Everything for the Generals as of late. Andreoff stormed down the right side and one-timed a picture-perfect pass from Scott Laughton into the yawning cage at 19:39. Oshawa had a hard fought 2-1 advantage heading into the second.
Time and space were really limited in the middle frame. Both sides seemed determined to minimize the opposition's scoring opportunities in a tightly contested game.
Once again, Oshawa's penalty killing unit was superb, and Altshuller continued to be a strong net presence: he registered 31 stops by the end of 40.
The low moment of the period for Oshawa came at 15:24. In a momentary defensive lapse, Joseph Blandisi found daylight and threaded the puck through Altshuller to tie the game. Deadlocked at 2, the stage was set for a thrilling third.
The Generals turned up the heat in the third period and left everything they had out on the ice. Josh Graves grabbed the reigns of destiny at 3:45 intercepting and errant pass at the Owen Sound blue line. Graves walked in from the tops of the circles and pumped a wrist shot on goal from the slot. The puck caught a piece of Stajcer's shoulder before it tumbled into the net. Oshawa had a 3-2 lead.
Oshawa kept rolling at 6:56 when Sebastian Uvira used his gold medal touch to feed Christian Thomas at the top of Owen Sound's crease. Thomas ripped a one-timer for his second point of the night right from Stajcer's doorstep.
Halmo notched his second of the night to tighten the score, but it did nothing more than heighten the drama. In the end, the Generals held onto the lead like a vicious dog with its favourite bone. The Generals were winners, 4-3.
Christian Thomas and Daniel Altshuller picked up the first and third star selections in the win.
Oshawa takes their show on the road for three games starting this Wednesday January 4th when they square off against the Bulls in Belleville. Start time is 7:05 PM, and the game can be seen live on Rogers TV Durham.
The Generals return to the General Motors Centre Friday January 13th to take on the Brampton Battalion for the back end of a home and home. Puck drops at 7:35 PM.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 1, 2012
- Gens Roll into New Year with Third Win in a Row - Oshawa Generals
- Rieder Scores Game Winner in Rangers' Victory - Kitchener Rangers
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