OHL Oshawa Generals

Gens Head West for a Win

Published on February 7, 2014 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Oshawa Generals News Release


After dropping a tough loss to the rival Peterborough Petes the night before, the Oshawa Generals headed west to try their hand in Kitchener against the Rangers. The Generals were leading the Petes 3-0 the night before but let the home team score three unanswered goals and eventually win in the shootout. Coming into Friday night's game against Kitchener the Gens had lost four out of their last five but still held first place in the Eastern Conference with 69 points after 52 games. Going through a rebuilding year, the Kitchener Rangers are fighting for a playoff spot and sat ninth place in the Western Conference, five points back of Plymouth for the eighth and final playoff position.

After a fight filled, physical affair with Peterborough the night before, Friday's game started out with a different feel for the Generals and focused more on the skill and speed of the game. Kitchener surprised the Generals just three minutes and twenty seconds into the first period with a Mason Kohn tip of Justin Bailey's shot to get the first goal of the game on Kenny Appleby. Appleby would get the start after regular Oshawa starter, Daniel Altshuller was suspended for partaking in a fight the previous game. Oshawa did not panic and continued to play their game working the Kitchener defense deep in their zone. Their work would pay off as the Gens were awarded with consecutive PowerPlay opportunities; on the second man-advantage veteran Dylan Smoskowitz showed great hands sliding the puck under Kitchener goalie Matthew Greenfield's pads to tie the game at one.

Kitchener got on the board early in the second period, just two minutes and one second into the frame. The goal came courtesy of Matia Marcantuoni, his 10th, on the PowerPlay when Max Iafrate fed a pass through a couple of Oshawa defenders and found Marcantuoni for a backdoor goal on Appleby. It took the Generals thirteen minutes to tie the game back up, it was again the veteran Smoskowitz getting his 26th goal on the season. Smoskowitz planted himself in front of the Kitchener net on the PowerPlay and redirected a Chris Carlisle pass from the left corner and into the net.

In the third period, it was the Generals who got on the score sheet early as Cole Cassels scored his 18th of the season. Cassels was able to put in a rebound on a Dylan Smoskowitz shot that made its way to the side of the net where Cassels was waiting for the rebound and put the puck into the open net as Greenfield was out of position. The Rangers responded with lots of offensive pressure and would fire 14 shots in the period at Kenny Appleby, Appleby was up to the challenge and turned aside all 14 shots to record his sixth win of the season.

Michael Dal Colle was named third star for his two-assist effort while overager Dylan Smoskowitz recorded two goals and one assist to receive first star honours.

The Generals will return home to take on the Peterborough Petes Sunday night, puck drop is 6:05 PM.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 7, 2014


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