Third period woes hit ailing Gens

By Joel Wittnebel/The Oshawa Express

The Oshawa Generals scooped up three points over the weekend with a victory over the Hamilton Bulldogs and a shootout loss to the Ottawa 67s.

While it was only half of the six points that were up for grabs, head coach Bob Jones voiced his pleasure with the way his team is looking on the ice.

“I like the way we’re playing right now,” said Jones

The Gens started their weekend at home against the Central Division leader Barrie Colts.

Oshawa would top the offence for the first two periods, taking a 3-1 lead into the final frame, then things would fall apart. Barrie would net five goals in the final period to win the game 6-3. The following night, Oshawa would travel down the road to take on the Hamilton Bulldogs, a team that is nipping at the Gens’ heels in the playoff standings, sitting close behind Oshawa’s 43 points with 40 for the final Eastern Conference playoff position.

The Generals would once again be the better team for two periods, keeping the Bulldogs off the scoreboard and carry and 2-0 lead into the third. However, the third period would provide a scare for Oshawa when Hamilton would get within one. Oshawa would eventually hold on to take the two points.

On Sunday, Jan. 31, Oshawa would return home for another division rivalry matchup against the Ottawa 67s.

It didn’t look good for Oshawa as the 67s jumped to a 2-0 lead and silenced the crowd at the General Motors Centre.

A massive hit from behind on Kenny Heuther would see Oshawa’s Sean Allen step up for his teammate, dropping the gloves with Ottawa’s Trent Mallette.

Allen would get the extra two minutes for instigating, and Ottawa would beat starter Justin Nichols.

The second goal came off the stick of Dante Salituro, who would beat a screened Nichols over the glove.

Late in the period, Salituro would find himself booted from the game after giving Alex Renaud a retaliatory slash to the back of the head following a hit.

Joe Manchurek would capitalize on the ensuing powerplay to cut the lead in half going into the second period.

Heuther would add to his team-leading scoring total, putting in his 20th goal of the season on the powerplay to tie the game.

The game would go back and forth after that, with Oshawa jumping ahead off the stick of Riley Stillman, who received a beautiful pass in the slot from newly-named captain Anthony Cirelli. Ottawa would answer back a little more than two minutes later.

Before the end of the second, Mitch Vande Sompel would give Oshawa a 4-3 lead going into the third after firing a shot through a screened Leo Lazarev.

Yet again, the third period would prove the difference for Oshawa.

Despite strongly outplaying the 67s throughout the game, Ottawa would even the score with under four minutes remaining and go on to defeat Oshawa in the shootout.

“We clearly outplayed them,” Jones said following the game. “We certainly deserved a better fate. We had numerous chances to win.”

The same was said by Cirelli, who despite the pair of losses over the weekend, likes the feeling he’s getting from his team.

“There’s a lot of ups and downs this weekend for sure. We had multiple third period leads and we kind of blew them a bit there, but we’re learning as a group here and we’re gelling as a team and we’re just going to continue from that,” he said.

The Generals travel to Barrie on Feb. 4 and Kingston the following night before returning home on Sunday, Feb. 7 where they will take on the Soo Greyhounds. Puck drop is set for 2:05 p.m.