Gens Return from Break with Loss
December 30, 2018 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Oshawa Generals News Release
The Generals made their return home tonight after the Holiday break to take on the Ottawa 67's at the Tribute Communities Centre. After grabbing a big 6-2 road win in their first game back on Friday night against the Mississauga Steelheads, the Gens record improved to 21-12-2-0 on the season. Looking to continue the two-point trend, the Gens aimed to take down the 67's at home tonight and head into the new year on a winning note.
Tonight's special presentation was dedicated to Bryan Boyes for his hard work and talents to the game of hockey and the Oshawa Generals organization. His career has been decorated with numerous stints of international play with Hockey Canada, including winning gold at the World Juniors, gold at the Spengler Cup and bronze at the 2018 Winter Olympics. As a two-time winner of the Memorial Cup with the Gens and his dedication to the team, the Oshawa Generals are proud to have Boyes as a part of the organization.
1st Period:
The Gens came out of the gate with a strong effort, generating lots of offensive zone time, getting shots on net, and playing physically. However, when Ottawa took the play into Oshawa's end, they were rewarded with a goal off a deflection in front of the net that just slid under Gens goalie Aidan Hughes to give the 67's an early 1-0 lead. Just past the halfway point of the period, Serron Noel, Anthony Salinitri, and Allan McShane had a quality offensive shift where they pinned the 67's in their zone and got several dangerous scoring opportunities. After the strong shift, Ottawa answered with a few chances of their own in which Hughes had to come up big with a couple of key saves to keep the Gens within one. With just over three minutes left in the period, the Gens took a delay of game penalty to give the 67's the first powerplay of the game. Capitalizing on their chance, Ottawa forward Graeme Clarke scored a top corner goal on the PP to give the 67's a 2-0 lead heading into the second period.
2nd Period:
Starting the period shorthanded due to a holding call at the end of the first, the Gens were able to kill off the penalty and keep Ottawa's powerplay from adding to their total. Back at even strength, Ottawa forward Kody Clark streaked down the wing in the Generals end and took a hard slap shot that beat Hughes, putting the 67's up 3-0 over the Gens. Just over five minutes into the period, the Gens were put back on the penalty kill after getting called for roughing. With a few big stops from Hughes, the Gens held off the 67's to remain down by three. With seven minutes left in the second, the Gens got their first powerplay opportunity of the game after Ottawa took a penalty for cross-checking. While they were able to get a good cycle going with the man advantage, Oshawa couldn't find the back of the net on the chance. In the final minutes of the second, the Gens had a couple of high-pressure shifts in a row where they kept the play in Ottawa's end, but couldn't pot their first. In the dying seconds of the period, a scrum broke out behind the Gens net that resulted in both teams heading off for two minutes and the Gens getting an extra penalty right after, putting the play at 4-on-3. Oshawa headed into the game's final frame trailing the 67's 3-0.
3rd Period:
Starting the period down 4-on-3, the Gens killed off the 67's powerplay chance to stop Ottawa from notching their fourth. At even strength, the rough play continued, once again resulting in both teams sitting for two minutes for some 4-on-4 hockey. The 67's were making use of the extra space on the ice and generating shots on the Gens, but Hughes stood tall and denied the chances. With each team still down a man, Gens defenseman Mitchell Brewer and 67's forward Sam Bitten started a fight that resulted in Brewer coming out on top. The Gens got the extra two minutes on the play to put them down on a 4-on-3 that Ottawa was able to score on, giving the 67's a 4-0 lead over Oshawa. However, the Gens were able to get one right back, with Matthieu Franche potting his first OHL goal on a 2-on-1 with Serron Noel. With just under eight minutes left in the game, the Gens got a chance on the powerplay after the 67's took a high-sticking penalty. The man advantage was short-lived when the Gens got called for holding, putting the play back to 4-on-4. With each team short a man, the Gens were able to beat the 67's and get their second of the game off a goal from Serron Noel, putting them within two of Ottawa. In the last three minutes of the game, Oshawa pulled their goalie to get out the extra man, but the 67's managed to bury one in the empty net to come away with a 5-2 victory over the Gens.
After a tough loss tonight, the team will look to rebound as they ring in the New Year at home against the Kingston Frontenacs on Tuesday afternoon.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 30, 2018
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