Bulls Down Rangers 6-2 on Family Day
February 16, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Belleville Bulls News Release
BELLEVILLE, ON - The Belleville Bulls hosted the Kitchener Rangers on Family Day Monday at the Yardmen Arena. Once again the Bulls offense was on full display as they buried four goals in the middle frame and on route to a 6-2 victory in front of 3,290 fans.
Belleville controlled most of the play to begin the first period as Bulls shooters peppered Detroit Red Wings draft pick Jake Patterson with a number of scoring chances. The home team finally found the back of the net just before the end of the period when Michael Cramarossa made a beautiful move around the Kitchener defender and found Jordan Subban on the doorstep. Subban's 22nd of the season gave the Bulls a 1-0 lead after the first 20 minutes of play. Belleville led 11-6 in shots.
The Bulls kept lighting the lamp in the second stanza. While on the power play thanks to a Max Iafrate hooking penalty, forward Matt Luff beat Patterson for his 8th of the campaign. Fellow rookie Brandon Saigeon added the assist. Just over three minutes later with Iafrate in the box again, Stephen Harper, who returned to the line up after serving a two game suspension, buried his 15th of the season on the man advantage ending Petterson's night. Czech Republic product David Tomasek and Welland, Ontario native Niki Petti picked up the helpers.
Kitchener stopped the bleeding three and a half minutes later. Rookie centre Connor Bunnaman beat starting netminder Charlie Graham at 12:23. Darby Llewellyn and Nick Magyar were credited with the assists on the Rangers only goal of the period. Just over a minute later the Bulls kept rolling when Captain Brett Welychka beat Dawson Carty with his 11th of the season from forward Adam Laishram and blue liner Jesse Saban.
The boys in black weren't finished there. During the final minute of the frame, Tomasek went coast to coast and ripped a wrister over the right shoulder of Carty to give the Bulls a 5-1 lead. Shots favoured Belleville 30-14.
A much quieter final period saw the visiting Rangers scoring first. While on the power play Magyar picked up his second point of the night when he potted his 15th of the season from Thomas Welsh and Frank Hora. The Bulls added one more later in the frame when Welychka stepped over the blue line and wired home his second of the contest short handed. Harper picked up the helper on the goal that gave the Bulls a 6-2 lead.
The Bulls pick up another important two points on home ice and improve to 23-25-3-4 with their second win in as many games. Toronto, native Charlie Graham made 24 saves in the victory. Belleville now lead the 7th place Kingston Frontenacs by 5 points on the OHL's Eastern Conference.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 16, 2015
- Bulls Down Rangers 6-2 on Family Day - Belleville Bulls
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- Otters Swim Past Steelheads - Brampton Steelheads
- Fast Start Lifts Otters over Mississauga 4-0 - Erie Otters
- Bunnaman, Magyar Score in Loss to Bulls - Kitchener Rangers
- Five Straight Wins for 67's After Road Victory in Kingston - Ottawa 67's
- IceDogs Hold Family Day Skills Competition - Niagara IceDogs
- Greyhounds' Sergey Tolchinsky Named Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week - OHL
- Morning Skate: Bulls Host Rangers on Family Day - Belleville Bulls
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