Third period collapse has Gens looking for answers

By Joel Wittnebel/The Oshawa Express

It’s starting to become a worrisome trend for the Oshawa Generals, a young team that has shown it can compete with the best the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) has to offer.

However, the club’s current 12-16-3-2 record could have a few more tallies in the win column. Not only were all of Oshawa’s previous three games decided by a single goal – a 4-3 loss to North Bay on Dec. 1, a 3-2 victory over Niagara on Dec. 11 and Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Saginaw – but more than half of their 16 losses this season have been decided by a single goal.

This fact has head coach Bob Jones frustrated.

“We compete hard and we’ve let some games slide away for numerous reasons, and that’s something we have to correct,” he said following the club’s loss to Saginaw at the General Motors Centre.

Sunday’s matchup started with a powerplay goal from Anthony Cirelli, his ninth of the season and his first Teddy Bear goal. The annual Teddy Bear toss saw the crowd of 5,889 in attendance fill the night with more than 6,000 plush toys, all of which were donated to the Durham Children’s Aid Foundation.

The first period wrapped up with Gens up by one and Jeremy Brodeur stopping all 10 shots he faced.

It wasn’t until the midway mark of the second that Saginaw would get on the board with a goal from Tye Felhaber off the rush, the puck slipping through Brodeur to roll over the goal line.

Things would get scary for Oshawa late in the period as Jalen Smereck was called for interference. Off the ensuing faceoff, Riley Stillman accidentally fired the puck over the glass and was sent to the box for delay of game, giving the Spirit nearly a full two minutes of five-on-three.

However, the Gens’ penalty kill would come up big, killing off the penalties to the elation of one of the loudest crowds the GM Centre has heard so far this season.

A late penalty to Saginaw would end the second frame, following which an additional early penalty in the third would give Oshawa their own five-on-three opportunity.

Jack Studnicka, Oshawa’s first round pick in April’s OHL draft and scoreless in his first 27 games with the club, shed the monkey off his back by slamming in a rebound to give Oshawa the lead.

“Obviously, it was great. It’s been a long time coming. I mean, it’s always been in the back of my mind that I haven’t got one yet and I’m glad to get it out of the way,” Studnicka said after the game.

The club’s momentum would only last for a few minutes when a weak shot along the ice found its way through the five-hole of Brodeur to erase the lead.

Then, with under two minutes to go, Saginaw’s Kris Bennett would shake off Oshawa’s defence and roof a shot past Brodeur to give his club the lead and the eventual victory, despite some big opportunities from the Gens with the empty net.

Jones made it clear after the game that he was not pleased with the performance of his starting goaltender.

“We (didn’t) get a save when we needed it. Their goalie made a game-breaking save in the slot with 12 seconds left of whatever it was and Brody’s got to be better than that,” he said.

And Brodeur knew it.

“It’s not good enough, We need to start winning games. We’ve been having trouble lately winning games and when I can’t put up a performance that’s going to help us win games, it doesn’t help our team at all and it just needs to change,” he said. “I always want to be better and it’s just though sometimes when pucks are slipping through and you wish they aren’t and you’ve just got to find a way to be better.”

Studnicka, however, said all the fault wasn’t with his goaltender.

“I think we just had some defensive breakdowns,” he said. “Some guys fell asleep, and some guys took the night off a little bit, including myself, so I’m going to hold myself accountable a little bit. But all in all, it’s just disappointing.”

Oshawa will be looking to improve their record when they continue their stint at home with games agains the Flint Firebirds on Dec. 18 and the Sudbury Wolves on Dec. 20.