Bulls Fall 3-2 to Steelheads
November 30, 2014 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Belleville Bulls News Release
MISSISSAUGA, ON - The Belleville Bulls continued their 3 game western road trip this weekend with a stop at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga to take on the Steelheads. The Bulls were looking to snap their current six game losing skid after falling 9-2 to the Niagara Ice Dogs on Thursday night. Despite leading after the first period, the Bulls came up short falling 3-2 to the Steelheads.
The Bulls are still without forward Adam Laishram who continues to battle a lower body injury and Jake Marchment who is still serving a 15 game suspension. Connor Hicks started between the pipes.
Belleville grabbed the momentum a little over half way through the frame when Chad Heffernan buried a beautiful centering pass from Brandon Saigeon to open the scoring. Forward Andrew Ming picked up the other assist on Heffernan's fourth of the season.
Veteran Remi Elie picked up a couple penalties in the period but the Steelheads couldn't capitalize on the man advantage. Shots favoured Mississauga 14-9 after 20 minutes but the Bulls led 1-0 on the scoreboard.
The steelheads flipped the script in the middle frame. 1995-born right winger Jimmy Lodge tied the game with an unassisted marker at 10:33. Just over a minute later rookie Michael McLeod beat Hicks to give his club the 2-1 lead. Kitchener, Ontario native Nathan Bastian and Damian Bourne picked up the helpers.
Shots were even at 14 a piece in the period.
Hoping to pick up the 2 points before heading to Erie to take on the Western Conference leading Otters on Saturday night, the Bulls were the first to light the lamp in the third. Rookie Matt Luff one-timed a gorgeous feed from over ager Brett Gustavsen to tie the game. Defenceman Alex Yuill was credited with the other assist.
Just under 3 minutes later the Steelheads took the lead again as Josh Burnside scored his 5th of the season that had to be reviewed upstairs. Russian import Sam Babintsev and veteran Lucas Venuto at 6:16.
The Bulls had a good chance to tie the game later in the period when Sean Day got called for interference at 15:47 but were unsuccessful on the power play. Connor Hicks skated to the bench with 1:07 left in regulation giving his team the extra attacker but the Steelheads would hang on escape with a 3-2 victory.
Hicks made 39 saves in the loss. The Oakville native, Luff, was awarded the games 3rd star. The Bulls drop to 4th in the Eastern Conference now with a 12-12-1-1 record.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 30, 2014
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