OHL Oshawa Generals

Downed by the Hounds

Published on December 11, 2011 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Oshawa Generals News Release


Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario - December 11th, 2011 - Oshawa played a courageous third period Sunday night, but they just couldn't overcome a poor start to the middle frame. The Generals fell 5-3 to the Greyhounds before a crowd of 4,027 at the Essar Centre in Sault Ste. Marie.

Penalty trouble hindered Oshawa's shot total in the first period. Strong goaltending from Daniel Altshuller and a short handed goal from Scott Sabourin ensured that the Generals kept even.

Altshuller found his groove early, stoning Brandon Alderson, who blew down the left side but couldn't jam the puck past the Gens' goaltender's squeezed pads. Oshawa's netminder was a difference maker all period long seeing pucks through traffic, stopping deflections and exhibiting superb rebound control.

Kyle Hope was the first to test Sault Ste. Marie goaltender, Jack Campbell, when he let loose a blistering point shot that stung Campbell's right pad. Oshawa opened scoring at 10:20 as Lucas Lessio stripped the last Greyhound defender and cradled the puck back and forth on a break. Lessio mesmerized Campbell before potting his 15th of the year, a hard and low forehand shot that beat Campbell short side.

The Greyhounds squared it at 1 when Mike Schwindt's point shot found the forest through the trees. Altshuller blocked the shot through traffic, but Greyhound Captain, Carson Dubchak, whacked home the loose puck on Altshuller's doorstep at 13:14.

Oshawa's penalty kill did an excellent job of closing gaps, attacking the points and keeping Greyhound snipers to the outside of the Generals zone. The PK was rewarded when Scott Sabourin struck short handed pouncing on a loose puck in Sault Ste. Marie's end. Sabourin side stepped Campbell before darting the puck into the heart of the open cage.

Sault Ste. Marie's power play finally capitalized late in the first on a 5-on-3. Michael Schumacher got right up in Altshuller's grill and found the puck at the tip of the crease. In all alone, Schumacher had multiple whacks at the piñata. He finally broke Altshuller at 16:08 tying the game 2-2.

In the second, the Greyhounds continued to dominate the shot parade and looked to take a stranglehold on the game. Sault Ste. Marie struck twice in the period including a power play marker and Dubchak's second of the evening.

With the Greyhounds up 4-2, Andy Andreoff came to the rescue striking on the power play at 17:33. Andreoff picked up his teammates from the top of the right circle wiring a perfect wrist shot right past Campbell's blocker. Down 4-3, Oshawa headed into the third with a chance to steal one on the road "" they were outshot 33-16 over the first 40 minutes of the game.

Oshawa's sense of urgency took over in the third with Andreoff and Scott Laughton blitzing the Greyhounds' zone. Campbell robbed Laughton multiple times "" on one stop, he turned aside a deflection that seemed like a guaranteed goal.

Nicklas Jensen appeared to tie it up on the power play when he muscled a shot through traffic and into the back of the net. Unfortunately, the goal was waved off due to a crease violation leaving Oshawa with the unenviable task of still needing the equalizer.

The Generals pulled their goaltender, and forced Campbell to make a brilliant save on Lessio who had the Greyhounds' goaltender all to himself after a beautiful feed from Jensen from behind the net.

Dubchak closed the book on the contest when he completed the hat-trick by hitting the empty net giving the Greyhounds a 5-3 win.

Andy Andreoff picked up the third star selection, and Daniel Altshuller made 36 saves in a losing cause.

The Generals play a pair of home games starting this Friday December 16th when Oshawa hosts the Plymouth Whalers at the GM Centre. Game time is 7:35 PM.

The homestand continues when Oshawa takes on the Ottawa 67's at the GM Centre on Sunday December 18th. Start time is 6:05 PM.

Check out the Oshawa Generals Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 11, 2011


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