OSHAWA—Defensemen Stephen Silas and Alex Basso scored goals three minutes apart in the third period to lead the Belleville Bulls to a 4-2 win in Oshawa. The win gives the Bulls four out of a possible six points over the weekend.
The first period saw the Bulls open the scoring at 6:32 as Scott Howe was left alone in front of an empty net. The goal was Howe’s first of the year. Cody Alcock and Brett Mackie earned assists on the play. Oshawa was able to level the score late in the frame as Jeff Brown earned his fourth goal of the season, finishing off a pretty passing play at the side of the net. Shots on goal in the period were 8-8.
In the middle frame the teams traded scoring chances and power-plays but only the Bulls were able to capitalize. Tyler Taylor took a nifty Andy Bathgate pass from behind the net and beat Generals’ goalie Michael Zador to give Belleville a 2-1 lead. Both goaltenders took turns flashing the leather in the period. Philipp Grubauer made an early glove save through traffic and later Zador had a nice catch of his own off an Adam Payerl shot from the slot. Shots on goal in the period were 11-11.
The third period saw a pair of Bulls defensemen find the back of the net. Silas earned his fourth goal of the season with a shot from the point that beat Zador along the ice. Three minutes later Basso fired a bullet shot just under the cross-bar to beat the Generals goaltender and extend the Bulls’ lead to 4-1. Matt Tipoff and Silas assisted on the power-play marker which was Basso’s second of the season.
The period saw some rough play, highlighted by a scrum between Bathgate and Oshawa defenseman Tony Dehart. The altercation left Bathgate needing repairs. The Generals were able to get a goal back in the final minute of play, on Brown’s second goal of the evening. It was too little, too late for Oshawa as Belleville held on for the win. Shots on goal in the period heavily favoured Oshawa, 18-7.
Notes
Attendance was 4,370…The Three Stars were 3)Brown, 2)Silas and 1)Grubauer…Taylor acted as Bulls team captain in the ceremonial faceoff before the game, his first game back in Oshawa since being traded to Belleville…Bulls scraches were Shawn Lalonde, Stephen Johnston and Jan Kaminsky…Marc Cantin wore the ‘C’…50 years ago tonight, (Nov. 1st, 1959) Andy Bathgate Sr. hit Jacques Plante in the face with a shot, leading Plante to wear a mask for the remainder of the game, changing the game forever…
Photo: Aaron Bell/QuinteHockey.ca
