FRONTS BEAT GENERALS, AGAIN
Entering Sunday afternoon’s Ontario Hockey League tilt with just 10 losses in 48 games this year, the Oshawa Generals had, in the wartime words of U.S. president Franklin Roosevelt, nothing to fear but fear itself — in this case the visiting Kingston Frontenacs, who, it’s worth noting, stood a distant 36 points back of the front-running Gens.
The reason for the trepidation: Oshawa, a league powerhouse, had suffered three of those 10 setbacks at the hands of the unflappable Fronts. Go figure.
Update: Make that four of 11 losses.
Conor McGlynn’s shootout marker gave the resilient visitors a 3-2 victory before 5,625 fans in Oshawa, many of whom left the General Motors Centre rubbing their eyes in disbelief. McGlynn was the only sniper to capitalize during a 12-player shootout.
As so often has happened during this winter of woe and injury aplenty, the Frontenacs received another yeoman effort from their goalkeeper. Lucas Peressini was at times sensational in staring down a 44-shot barrage.
“Every team has to have a great goalie and Lucas has been great for us all year and especially in the third period and the overtime of this game,” said Fronts coach Paul McFarland, whose team was outshot 19-7 in the final frame, 44-28 overall.
McGlynn, who tallied twice in Saturday’s 5-2 home-ice victory over Sarnia, and Lawson Crouse scored for Kingston (19-20-5-2).
Michael Dal Colle and Mitchell Vande Sompei replied for the Generals (38-7-2-2).
“That was an unbelievable effort from everyone,” lauded McFarland. “The kids continue to work hard and they’re getting rewarded.”
Though his 18th birthday remains months away, Crouse collected two early gifts in Sunday’s matinee, a pair of poorly-passed pucks off the sticks of Oshawa rearguards.
Five minutes after the opening face-off, Crouse pounced on a Dakota Mermis giveaway and whipped a low shot past Gens goaler Ken Appleby for a Kingston 1-0 lead. Midway through Period 2, he intercepted another errant feed alone in front of Appleby, who this time foiled the winger with a pad save.
The teams were tied 1-1 after 20 minutes and 2-2 after two periods and into the extra session.
Moments after Dal Colle was foiled on a second-period penalty shot, he beat Peressini with a wicked wrist shot on a powerplay. Dal Colle’s 30th of the season put the host team ahead 2-1.
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