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OHL Kingston Frontenacs

Game Slips Away as the Fronts Fall 4-3 to the Generals in Overtime

November 21, 2021 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kingston Frontenacs News Release


The Kingston Frontenacs made their first trip to Oshawa on Sunday evening earning a point in a 4-3 overtime loss at Tribute Communities Centre. It was the second of 12 meetings for the East Division foes after Oshawa had beaten the Frontenacs 6-4 in Kingston on Nov 12 and halted the Frontenacs modest two-game winning streak.

Leevi Meriläinen, a winner of four straight, was in goal for Kingston facing Patrick Leaver for a second time in the pipes for the Gens.

First Period

A trio of teammates extended personal point streaks for the only goal of the opening frame with both teams came out hot with 10 combined shots in the opening five minutes.

Kingston's Gage Hayes and Jackson Stewart combined for the games first chance with the rookies crashing the crease on Leaver. Meriläinen then made a big stop on Lleyton Moore after a centring pass by Calum Ritchie found the streaking defender as both goalies would play well.

The Fronts registered the opening goal for the first time in five games with Francesco Arcuri (6) extending a four-game point streak (3G,3A) scoring in his third consecutive game for the 1-0 goal. The Dallas Stars prospect banged home a crease pass from Jordan Frasca, who extended a point-streak to five (5G,4A) with the helper at 8:03. Edmonds recorded an assist after a great play on the boards feeding Frasca, giving the assistant captain points in seven straight games (5G,12A).

The teams traded a pair of penalties in the last half of the period with Kingston going to the games first powerplay with nine minutes left in the frame. With three seconds left in the Fronts powerplay, Oshawa got their first opportunity with extended offensive-zone time firing five shots during the man-advantage, but Meriläinen stood his ground helping a tired Kingston penalty-kill unit helping getting Kingston to the first intermission with the one goal lead.

Second Period

The teams played a much tighter checking period with only 16 total shots by the teams, but the Fronts would stay ahead after 40 minutes.

Matthew Soto almost put the visitors up a goal after a puck ricocheted wildly off the boards in front of an open net off a Fronts dump in, but a Gens defender just got his stick on it. Moments later, the Generals forced a turnover in the Kingston zone tying the game. Cooper Way and Kevin Niedenz teamed up on a quick two-way passing play before centering a pass to a waiting Matthew Buckley (6) off the side of the net who banged it into an open cage for the 1-1 score at 6:53.

Edmonds looked like he hit the crossbar ripping a shot over Leaver's shoulder with nine minutes left but play continued as the puck had rifled back out quickly. A review was done at the next stoppage to see if the puck went in, and indeed the Fronts found themselves up 2-1 at 10:50. Edmonds (10), the games first star, added to his team-leading point total (30) with Jake Murray getting an assist for the second game in a row. The overage forward is now fourth in overall OHL scoring, three points back of Peterborough's Tucker Robertson.

Oshawa had their number-two ranked powerplay get a pair of chances shortly after the Kingston go-ahead goal. Generals leading goal scorer Ryan Stepien was stoned by Meriläinen during the first opportunity.

The Frontenacs finished the period with their second man advantage with 2:09 left. Head coach Luca Caputi called a time out with 1:19 left keeping his first unit on the ice in the important late period opportunity. A good chance was had with a loose puck in the crease but was muffed out by Leaver keeping the score 2-1 as the teams headed to the third.

Third Period

Kingston went to a third chance on the powerplay, but a key shorthanded goal by Nikita Parfenyuk at 9:16 squared the game 2-2. After Cooper Way shot it off the post, Parfenyuk (1) followed up the play and banged in the rebound for his first OHL goal and it was a new game. Niedenz and Way both earned their second assists of the game on the marker.

Kingston took advantage of a bad Oshawa line change taking a 3-2 lead at 11:38. Maddox Callens (6) took a great stretch pass by defenceman Thomas Budnick before skating in and wiring a heat-seeker over Leaver's shoulder from the faceoff dot for the go-ahead goal. The Langton, ON native has goals in two straight and is off to a great start to his season with 10 points in just 14 games.

The Generals had an empty net with 1:24 left and got the tying score. Brett Harrison scored with 1:06 left off a faceoff win in the Fronts zone to get the game 3-3.

With 19 seconds left, the Generals went to a powerplay and took 1:41 of four-on-three man-advantage to overtime, proving costly in the extra frame.

Overtime

Ty Tullio scored off a wicked one-timer while on the ensuing powerplay to give the Generals a 4-3 comeback win.

Fronts Notes

Rookies Gage Hayes and Nathan Poole both hale from Oshawa

Kingston is ranked 10th in latest CHL National rankings

Frasca on a five-game point streak

Edmonds on a seven-game streak

Arcuri on a five-game point streak

Martin Chromiak missed the game - listed as day-to-day

Team Stat Pack - GP (16)

Record (9-4-3-0)

Leaders (Top/3)

Goals - Edmonds (10), Frasca (9), Chromiak, Wright (7)

Assists - Edmonds (20), Chromiak (13), Wright (12),

Points - Edmonds (30), Frasca, Chromiak (20), Wright (19)

PIMs - Poole (23), Haché (18), Callens (17)

SOG - Edmonds (75), Wright (66), Chromiak (56)

On The Front

The next home game is Friday, Nov 26 with the Central Division North Bay Battalion and 2020 First-Overall selection Ty Nelson making their second visit to the Leon's Centre.

Listen to all the action on 104.3 Fresh Radio with Frontenacs play-by-play voice Jim Gilchrist. Fans can also follow along with team social media channels at Twitter, Facebook and IG for updates.

The arena is now operating at 100% capacity, following all Provincial health guidelines.

All home game tickets are available online at www.ticketmaster.ca or visiting the Leon's Centre box office. Group Sales and Flex Packs are also available for fans at www.kingstonfrontenacs.com.

Check out the Kingston Frontenacs Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 21, 2021


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