Gens Move in to Playoff Position
Published on January 22, 2012 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Oshawa Generals News Release
Oshawa, Ontario - 3 unanswered third period goals were the difference on Sunday night as Oshawa skated past Barrie 3-0. Kevin Bailie was perfect in net and Andy Andreoff netted 2 goals and an assist before a packed crowd of 4,890 at the General Motors Centre in Oshawa. With Belleville's loss to Kingston, the Generals move into the 8th and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Both teams were coming off wins and looked to carry their momentum into the first period. Boone Jenner was also squaring off against World Junior teammate, Tanner Pearson, for the first time since the two won bronze together in Alberta.
In the opening twenty, Oshawa struggled to get shots through, but held their own in a back and forth period. Starting goaltender, Kevin Bailie, benefited from his team's smart defensive play: he was able to see most of the 13 shots that came his way. Operating in quick-time, Bailie robbed Tanner Pearson of a wrap-around goal with a swift left pad.
Matt Petgrave had a great first period, and two minutes in, he pounded a point shot that snapped at the pads of Matthias Niederberger. Defensively, Petgrave laid into Barrie's forwards and gave them a steady diet of boards. Late in the frame, Petgrave used his stick to disrupt a dangerous 2-on-1.
No sound effects were necessary to capture the bone rattling hits delivered by Scott Laughton, Scott Sabourin and Andy Andreoff in Barrie's end. The Generals' best scoring chance of the period came when Boone Jenner cut into the high slot and rifled a snapshot off of Niederberger's right shoulder. After 1, the game was still all zeroes with Oshawa looking to up their shot total in the second.
Bailie's foot-speed proved to be vital again in the second period. Under the siege of a Colts' 5-on-3 advantage, Bailie made a stunning right-toe-stop on Winnipeg prospect, Mark Scheifele, who tried to sneak a one-timer through the backdoor. Another highlight from the reel was a glove save that came at the expense of Dylan Smoskowitz (Bailie probably had more trouble spelling the forward's last name than he did with the shot).
Early in the third, Andreoff finally cracked the case at 4:03. Andreoff drove to the net, gained position on the defender, and redirected a Thomas wrist-shot into the back of Barrie's goal. Oshawa had the much coveted 1-0 lead.
The small spread stayed intact thanks to an ambitious Generals' penalty kill. The two minutes featured a Bailie blocker-save followed by Nicklas Jensen ragging and pinning the puck in the Colts' zone.
The Generals kept coming, and at 12:42, Scott Laughton cruised into the slot fully aware that Andreoff was waiting in the weeds down low. The two connected with Laughton blasting home a one-timer that had Niederberger ducking for cover. In a game that boasted no scoring until the third, Oshawa's 2-0 lead might as well have been 20.
Andreoff capped the night off hitting the empty-net 1 second before the horn sounded.
Bailie made 39 stops earning a shutout and his second consecutive win of the weekend.
Bailie and Andreoff were the game's first and second stars.
There's no rest for the wicked. Oshawa has a full plate of action this upcoming weekend, they play 3 games in 3 nights.
First, it's a Friday bus trip down the 401 to take on the East Division rival Frontenacs. The January 27th game starts at 7:30 PM and can be seen live on Rogers TV Durham.
Then, it's back-to-back home games beginning this Saturday January 28th when the Generals take on the Battalion at the GMC. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
Sunday January 29th, Oshawa battles the arch-rival Peterborough Petes at the General Motors Centre. It's a 6:05 PM tee-off. See you there!
Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 22, 2012
- Gens Move in to Playoff Position - Oshawa Generals
- Maletta Lifts Spits over Hounds - Windsor Spitfires
- Spirit Storm Past Majors in Third - Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
- IceDogs Breakout in Big 9-0 Win Over Petes - Niagara IceDogs
- Spirit Score Three Third Period Goals to Defeat Majors - Saginaw Spirit
- Rangers Fall 4-3 in the Nation's Capital - Kitchener Rangers
- Otters Lose in Overtime Against Knights, 3-2 - Erie Otters
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