OHL Oshawa Generals

Gens Knock off Battalion in Overtime Thriller

Published on January 13, 2012 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Oshawa Generals News Release


Oshawa, Ontario - Friday the 13th was a lucky night for the Generals. Oshawa won an overtime thriller beating Brampton 3-2 before 4,255 elated fans at the General Motors Centre. Disciplined hockey, strong goaltending and timely scoring were the keys to success for Oshawa. The Generals are now back to .500 with a chance to earn a winning record before the end of the weekend.

The new-look Generals took to the ice with 3 defensemen making their home debut. Geoffrey Schemitsch, Matt Petgrave and Julian Melchiori all donned the Red, Blue and White on the Generals blue-line.

Captain, Boone Jenner, and Nicklas Jensen also returned home for the first time since playing in the World Juniors tournament in Alberta. No doubt, this Generals line-up was deep, complete and ready to compete.

In the first period, Oshawa played smart, defensive hockey. The tandem of Petgrave and Schemitsch rubbed out Brampton's fore check and limited shots to the perimeter. Kevin Bailie grabbed the cage for Oshawa and was perfect making 11 saves in the opening frame. Bailie's marquee moment came in the period's final minute. Oshawa's netminder coolly skated out to the tops of the circles and cleared a dangerous puck, negating a Battalion breakaway.

With seconds left on the clock, the Generals pounced. Oshawa goal machine, Lucas Lessio, rolled out from the boards and picked a hole in Keegan Wilson's armour for his 21st of the season. The wrist shot skipped through the Brampton goaltender like a stone and left the Battalion stunned. The Generals finished the first period with a hard fought, 1-0 lead.

Early in the second, Bailie ensured Oshawa's goal was closed for business. First, he pulled a Tim Thomas when he sprawled across the crease and batted away a loose puck. Then, he rejected a Barclay Goodrow wrister from the slot. Bailie's gem of the period came in the final two minutes of the frame. Ian Watters released a razor, but Bailie gloved it before it could burn the back of the net.

Brampton managed to beat Bailie once, but before that, Oshawa added one of their own. Scott Sabourin exploded a wrist shot from just inside the tops of the circles at 7:08. Blinded by the blast, Brampton's goaltender didn't have time to move.

Once again, Oshawa's defensive zone coverage was spectacular with defenseman like Melchiori muscling attackers off of the puck. Battalion odd-man-rushes were close to extinct in the middle twenty. Still, at the end of two, Oshawa was winning by the narrowest of margins, 2-1.

The Generals stormed into the third period determined to net some insurance. In particular, Andy Andreoff was wheeling, dealing and smashing his opponents all over the ice. Oshawa's defence welted Wilson with wired shots from the point. Oshawa got traffic to the net and seemed to be doing everything right, but alas, it was Brampton that evened the score. Goodrow unleashed a shot from the left dot that beat Bailie short side. In the final seconds of regulation, Andreoff pelted the post, but the game was destined for overtime.

Tied 2-2, the Generals entered the sudden death frame with the man advantage. Oshawa's power play wasted no time connecting, and 27 seconds in, Andreoff became the game's hero. With Lessio driving hard to the net, Andreoff banked the puck off Wilson and in, elevating the Generals to a 3-2 victory.

Shots were 38-28 for Oshawa.

Melchiori and Lessio picked up the first and second star selections in the win.

The Generals continue their weekend home stand this Sunday January 15th when they take on the Sudbury Wolves at the General Motors Centre. Puck drops at 6:05 PM.

Check out the Oshawa Generals Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 13, 2012


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