OHL Oshawa Generals

Road Woes in Ottawa

January 20, 2012 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Oshawa Generals News Release


Ottawa, Ontario - The scene wasn't pretty for the Generals in Ottawa on Friday night. They fell 8-3 to the Eastern Conference-leading 67's before 6,202 at the Ottawa Civic Centre. Nicklas Jensen had a 2 point night, and Lucas Lessio scored his team-leading 22nd goal of the season, but 3 unanswered goals in the latter half of the second period proved to be Oshawa's undoing.

Throughout the first period, Oshawa exuded confidence in their own zone. Colin Suellentrop's intimidating play helped shore up the back end. Matt Petgrave's smooth skating and quick first pass ensured speedy transitions up the ice towards Ottawa's goal.

Czech Republic star goaltender, Petr Mrazek, manned the cage for Ottawa. He nearly succumbed to a John Urbanic wrist shot and was tested 15 times in the opening frame.

The Generals limited Ottawa's potent offence to just 8 shots, a feat even more impressive considering that the 67's had two power play opportunities. Daniel Altshuller was perfect in the opening twenty as the final line of defence. Oshawa's net-minder employed quick feet and sound positioning to turn aside the 8 shots that he faced. Altshuller was cat-like when he acrobatically blocked a Shane Prince deflection late in the frame.

Boone Jenner's brilliance on the penalty kill turned deadly for Ottawa at 19:32. Oshawa's Captain beat Tyler Toffoli along the boards and fed the puck to Nicklas Jensen. Jensen's craftiness got Mrazek guessing, and Jensen caught the 67's goaltender moving the wrong way. Mrazek must have had that sinking feeling as Jensen's snap-shot beat him stick-side, rattling off of the post and in. The short-handed marker closed the curtain on the first period. Oshawa had a 1-0 lead.

Oshawa's immaculate first period was completely undone by 1:14 of the second. 30 seconds in, Marc Zanetti teed off on Altshuller after a clean faceoff win. Dalton Smith provided the perfect screen, and Altshuller couldn't stop what he couldn't see. The power play goal tied the game at 1.

Less than a minute later, John McFarland continued Ottawa's pushback. The 67's forward won a 1-on-1 battle and proceeded to wire the go-ahead-goal blocker side.

But true to their character, the Generals got even. Lucas Lessio blazed down the left wing and fired the puck towards Jensen who drove towards the far post. The puck never got there, instead, it deflected off a defender and in. Lucky Luc was credited with his team leading 22nd of the season. Once again, the game started anew.

Petgrave pounded a point shot that Mrazek just managed to redirect with his right boot. No doubt, Mrazek's toes were burning, but the sacrifice was worth it when Ottawa closed out the period by scoring 3 straight, unanswered goals.

Cody Ceci's power-play marker at 15:45 put Ottawa in the driver's seat. Steven Janes potted a rebound at 16:24 that doubled Ottawa's lead. Jake Cardwell scored an absolute back-breaker with 8 seconds left in the frame that put the 67's up 5-2. Heading into the dressing room, the Generals (who were deadlocked less than 9 minutes earlier) had to be wondering just what went wrong.

The head-scratching continued 1:05 into the third. Tofolli netted his third point of the night when he beat Kevin Bailie on a jam-play from the left side.

Ever resilient, the Generals got one back on the power play. Jensen gained the blue-line and blasted a slap-shot. It deflected off Mrazek and shot straight up in the air. Sensing a jump ball, Sebastian Uvira catapulted towards the goal and tapped the loose puck in, just before the net came off its moorings. The score was 6-3 Ottawa.

But that was Oshawa's final sniff. Ottawa added 2 more for an 8-3 final score. The differential was especially lopsided considering the fact that Oshawa outshot Ottawa 42-37 on the night.

Oshawa's jam-packed, action-filled weekend continues at home, tomorrow night, Saturday January 21st, vs. the Kingston Frontenacs at the General Motors Centre. Start time is 7:05 PM.

This Sunday January 22nd, the Generals are right back at it: the Barrie Colts roll into the GMC to clash sticks for the first time this season. Puck drops at 6:05 PM.

Check out the Oshawa Generals Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 20, 2012


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