Bulls Drop Round 1 vs. Generals

November 1, 2014 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Belleville Bulls News Release


BELLEVILLE, ON - Special teams were the difference in the first half of a weekend home-and-home series between the Belleville Bulls and the Oshawa Generals. Two of the top 3 teams in the OHL's Eastern Conference took the ice Saturday night in front of the largest crowd at the Yardmen Arena so far this season. The Generals went 3 for 4 on the man advantage on route to a 5-2 victory over the Bulls.

Right from the drop of the puck, the Gens applied the pressure, putting a number of quality scoring chances on netminder Charlie Graham. Just under 6 minutes in while on the power play, New York Islanders prospect Michael Dal Colle opened up the scoring as he buried a slap shot from the right face off circle. Sophomore Mitchell Vande Sompel, who leads all OHL defencemen, picked up his 17th assist of the year on the play.

The Generals continued to prove why they have one of the top power play's in the league. Belleville defenceman Stephen Harper was sent to the box for slashing at 11:48 and right-winger Hunter Smith made the Bulls pay, scoring his 11th of the season from Cole Cassels and Dal Colle.

The Bulls had an answer, though, scoring a power play goal of their own. After being caught with too many men on the ice, Vancouver Canucks prospect, Jordan Subban, blasted a slap shot by Ken Appleby at 15:54. Over-ager Brett Welychka and forward Adam Laishram were credited with assists on the goal that cut the lead in half. Subban extended his point streak to 7 games with his 8th of the campaign. The Gens led 14-9 in shots and 2-1 on the scoreboard after the first period.

Beginning the second frame, Oshawa picked up right where there left off. Another successful man advantage for the Generals saw Georgetown, Ontario native Josh Sterk extend the lead for his club. Dal Colle, who was awarded the first star of the contest, added his second assist of the night. Play was back and forth, with few whistles for the remainder of the period and the Generals led 3-1 after 40 minutes.

Things started to get a little chippy in the third. 4 minutes in, Bulls forward Brett Gustavsen laid a big hit on Vande Sompel who was slow to get up. Oshawa's Cole Cassels didn't like the hit and went after Gustavsen, picking up two minutes for instigating a fight. The tilt seemed to spark the home team as they began to pick up the intensity. Just over three minutes later Stephen Harper jammed in a loose puck to make it a one goal game. Andrew Ming and David Tomasek, who continues to help out on the blue line, picked up the assists.

That's as close as the Bulls would come. Rookie Tobias Lindberg sealed the deal for the Generals when he put away his 8th of the season from Bradley Latour and Josh Brown at 17:49. Latour also added an empty netter just over a minute later. Ken Appleby made 24 saves picking up his 11th win of the year.

With the win the Generals improve to 12-2-1-0, jumping 5 points ahead of the Bulls. Belleville will be looking for revenge on Sunday evening as round two is set for 6:05 from the GM Centre in Oshawa.



Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 1, 2014


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