OHL Oshawa Generals

Oshawa Can't Complete Comeback in Guelph

Published on November 18, 2011 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Oshawa Generals News Release


Guelph, ON - November 18th, 2011 - Oshawa battled back in Guelph Friday night, but in the end, it wasn't enough: they fell 4-2 to the Storm before a lively crowd of 4,531 at the Sleeman Centre. Oshawa had a strong second period and a decent third, but a poor first period was just too much to overcome. Kevin Bailie made 37 saves in the loss.

The first was a fast, free-flowing period, and even though Oshawa seemed to have their legs, they struggled to put together a cohesive offensive attack. The same couldn't be said for Guelph who peppered Oshawa goaltender, Kevin Bailie, with 28 shots in the opening twenty: three of them found the back of the net.

Early on, Bailie flashed nerves of steel turning aside Tanner Richard who couldn't beat the Generals net-minder on a backhand in all alone. Other standout saves included a shoulder stop on Zack Mitchell who unleashed a wicked wrist shot from the right circle, and a lightning quick pad save on Francis Menard.

The Storm finally broke through on a short handed 2-on-1 rush: Mitchell tapped home a cross-crease-pass on a play where Bailie was without help. The period unravelled when Matt Finn beat Bailie glove side on a play that could have been called offside. Mitchell added additional salt to Oshawa's wounds when he scored his second of the period with 49 seconds left on the clock. Lucas Lessio came close clanging a shot off the crossbar, but at the end of 1, the Generals found themselves in a 3-0 hole.

In the second period, Oshawa righted the ship and cut the deficit down to 1. Kyle Hope got the Generals on the board scoring his first of the season just a buck-thirty in. Hope's power play marker came when he walked in from the point uncontested and wristed a perfect shot that beat Guelph goaltender, Garret Sparks, short side.

Throughout the period, Oshawa's defensive zone coverage did an excellent job of covering the point-men. Nicklas Jensen was rewarded when he picked the pocket of Guelph's last defender at the Generals blue line. Jensen exploded down the ice, blazed into Storm territory and powered a wrist shot over Sparks' right shoulder for his 12th goal of the season.

Oshawa almost evened the score when Christian Thomas streaked down the left side and rattled a wrist shot off the post. Thomas looked ever dangerous in the middle frame threading a pass to Scott Laughton who was shut down by Sparks from point blank range. Sparks preserved Guelph's slim lead when he robbed Josh Graves who cut across the front of the net and fired a backhand late in the frame. Heading into the third, Oshawa was right back in the thick of it, down 3-2.

Early in the final frame, Oshawa's momentum seemed certain to continue, but Sparks made a huge save after Jimmy McDowell teed off from the top of the circles. Laughton and Lessio took turns skating through the entire Storm team, but in the end, they both ran out of real estate and couldn't even the score.

Oshawa killed off a Guelph two man advantage late in the frame, but ultimately, Mitchell delivered the final dagger completing the hat-trick at 17:44 - it was also Mitchell's 4th point of the game.

Oshawa is right back at it tomorrow, Saturday November 19th, playing their first of two weekend home games vs. the Kingston Frontenacs at the General Motors Centre. The game is a special 75th anniversary game, and the puck drops at 7:05 PM.

This Sunday November 20th, the Generals defend home ice against the Windsor Spitfires. Start time is 6:05 PM at the General Motors Centre.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 18, 2011


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