Rasmussen Not Enough as Majors Fall in Shootout

November 12, 2011 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors News Release


Justin Rasmussen turned in his best offensive effort of the year on Saturday night in Owen Sound, but he and his teammates aren't smiling on their way back to Mississauga tonight.

The Owen Sound Attack came back from a two goal deficit with 5:58 remaining in the third period to eventually drop the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors 4-3 in a shootout in front of 2,892 fans at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre in Ontario Hockey League action.

Tonight marked the first time the Majors took to the ice in Owen Sound since game six of last year's OHL Final, which saw the Attack come away with a 3-2 win sending the series to the seventh and final game. The two teams will not meet again during the 2011-12 regular season.

Despite the loss, the Majors picked up the single point and remain tops in the Central Division with 26 points. Combined with a 6-3 Ottawa 67's loss to the Oshawa Generals, the Majors remain tied with the 67's for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Rasmussen opened the scoring with his first shorthanded goal of the game at 5:13 of the second period, assisted by Riley Brace, to give the Majors a 1-0 lead. He then put the Majors up 2-0 with his second of the game and fourth of the season - also shorthanded - just 2:28 later from Dylan DeMelo at 7:41.

Owen Sound would cut the lead to one on a goal by Gemel Smith on the power play, unassisted at the nine minute mark, to make it a 2-1 game in favour of the Majors heading into the final frame.

Brace restored the two goal lead for the Majors on the power play at 11:42 of the third period, his 12th of the year, from Stuart Percy and DeMelo, but from there the Attack took over. Smith notched his second of the game for Owen Sound to cut the Majors lead to 3-2 at 14:02, then struck again for his third of the game with just 1:26 remaining in the third period from Mike Halmo, sending the game to extra time.

The Majors led 31-25 in shots through the first 40 minutes, but the Attack led in regulation and overtime, including a 15-7 margin in the third period. Both teams finished up with 42 shots on goal.

With overtime solving nothing, the game headed to a shootout which saw the first shooter, Joseph Blandisi of the Attack, score the lone goal of the shootout, giving the Attack the win. Shooters for the Majors were Derek Schoenmakers, Jordan Mayer, and Brace.

Chances with the man advantage were plentiful for both teams, as the Majors and Attack each had nine power play opportunities, both capitalizing once.

JP Anderson was in goal for the Majors and made 38 saves through regulation and overtime and two more in the shootout in the losing effort. Jordan Binnington stopped 39 shots through the first 65 minutes as well as all three shots he faced in the shootout for the win.

The Majors have picked up three of a possible four points through the first two games of their three-in-three which they'll wrap up tomorrow afternoon at the Hershey Centre when they host the Sarnia Sting at 2 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 905-502-7788, through www.ticketmaster.ca, or from the Hershey Centre box office before gametime.



Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 12, 2011


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