OHL Oshawa Generals

Road Trouble

February 4, 2012 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Oshawa Generals News Release


Ottawa, Ontario -The Generals played a commendable road game in Ottawa Friday night, but fell 3-2 to the Eastern Conference 1st place 67's before 5,084 at the Ottawa Civic Centre. The two teams were neck and neck for the first 2 frames. When the 67's grabbed the lead in the third, they never let go. Petr Mrazek and Kevin Bailie both had outstanding evenings, and Oshawa's power play struggled to be a deciding factor going 1/7 on the night. Scott Laughton had 2 points in the loss.

In the first period, Kevin Bailie was impenetrable. It didn't matter what the 67's threw at him, the only thing going down the drain was their scoring chances. The Generals' net-minder got to work right away. Going post to post, he straddled the goal line and stopped Shane Prince on an odd-man-rush. Steven Janes and Sean Monahan were also victimized by Oshawa's goaltender who absorbed shots like a sponge leaving nothing on the table.

Oshawa's tight checking and tenacious forechecking forced the 67's to take 3 consecutive penalties. The Generals' 7th ranked power play went to work, but 67's goaltender, Petr Mrazek, was dialled in and disconnected Oshawa's scoring opportunities. Christian Thomas stepped into a smooth dish from Andy Andreoff for Oshawa's best chance of the frame, but Mrazek left the Generals wanting. After 1, the shots were 15-14 in favour of Ottawa, but thanks to superb goaltending at both ends, the score-sheet remained blank.

The 67's kicked off scoring midway through the middle frame. A beautiful stretch-pass from Sean Callaghan sent Ottawa in on a 2-on-1. John McFarland fed Monahan who completed the transaction, sailing the 1-0 marker over Bailie's right pad.

The Generals' offence didn't miss a beat. Scott Laughton led the response digging the puck off the left boards. With superb intuition, Laughton wheeled a pass to Thomas who was camped out in the slot. The Oshawa sharp shooter ripped his 22nd of the season, a blast that Mrazek probably didn't see but certainly heard!

Andreoff scathed the post in the period's dying seconds but couldn't capture the go-ahead goal. Heading into the third, the two teams were dead locked at 1 with the Generals leading the shot parade, 28-27. The 2 points were there for the taking, but Oshawa had tofind a way to get their power play working.

Both teams battened down the hatches in the final twenty. Time and space were at a premium, but at 9:23, the 67's found a way to make it click. Mike Vlajkov hesitated before firing a wrist shot that Bailie knocked down with his right pad. Prince picked up what may have been the only juicy rebound of the evening and steered it into the bottom left corner. Ottawa had the coveted 2-1 lead.

The 67's added insurance with a power play marker at 15:22. Standing tall at the foot of the crease, Janes fought to win a cross-ice-pass. Janes prevailed tucking home whatturned out to be the game-winning-goal.

The Generals pulled their goalie on the power play. With just 39 seconds left, Nicklas Jensen restored hope. Finding open ice on the left side, Jensen hammered a rebound down the throat of a yawning cage. The score was 3-2 Ottawa.

Oshawa pressed in the dying seconds and forced Mrazek to make a sprawling glove save at the final buzzer. In the end, the Generals ran out of time to find the equalizer.

Ottawa edged out Oshawa, 37-36, on the shot clock.

Kevin Bailie picked up the third star selection for his 33 save performance.

With the loss, the Generals move into a tie with Belleville for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They remain 1 point back of Mississauga for 7th overall.

The Generals are back home for a special Super Bowl Sunday start time. They battle the Guelph Storm this Sunday February 5th at the General Motors Centre with puck drop scheduled for 2:05 PM. It's the perfect way to kick-start a great day of sports!

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 4, 2012


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