Generals gain Conference title and extend win streak to six on a Friday night in Brantford
Oshawa, Ont. – The Oshawa Generals and Brantford Bulldogs had a playoff-like feel to their Friday night matchup where the Generals took the game 6-4.
With the Conference title on the line, Jacob Oster made a total of 20 saves on 24 shots and NHL prospects Connor Lockhart, Connor Punnett, Calum Ritchie, and Dylan Roobroeck had their fair rack up of points. Tonight’s win has put the Generals into the first spot in the Eastern Conference and extends their win streak to six.
An immediate 59 seconds after puck drop, Lockhart put the Generals on the board after hopping onto a loose puck in front and tucked the door-step rebound in off Rasmus Kumpulainen’s initial shot and grabbed his 23rd of the season.
Seven and a half minutes into the frame, Oshawa Generals’ recently signed Dallas Stars defenceman, Punnett, sniped one in from the blueline, yet the play was called no goal instantly due to a potential goalie interference by Stuart Rolofs. Challenged by Oshawa and after minutes of reviewing, the goal was deemed fair and Punnett ensured his 10th of the season.
Approaching the midway point of the first period, it was Ethan Toms who took a late shift change and hustled into the breakout play going in the offensive zone. With a backhand feed from Beckett Sennecke, Toms was untouched and sent the puck straight past goaltender Matteo Drobac for the third of his career.
Roobroeck joined in on the first frame fun after a tic-tac-toe power play keepaway that ended with Roobroeck firing a bullet to the net and gaining his 20th this season. It was Luca D’Amato to Ritchie to Roobroeck in the slot which made for a 4-0 lead heading into the second, in favour of the Generals.
It was a quiet second frame for the Generals, but the Bulldogs’ intensity picked up, which made for a total of 16 penalty minutes in the 20. The Bulldogs got on the board after Patrick Thomas got it past Oster for his 19th of the campaign.
About six and a half minutes into the third frame, Bulldogs Luca Testa did the hard work down low and sent a pass to the point, which was then riffled by Niko Krmpotic through traffic, with Cole Brown getting a piece to put past Oster’s right shoulder for a reach within 2.
Marek Vanacker put the Bulldogs up within a one-goal difference about a minute later for his 32nd of the season after walking right in past Generals defence and making a move to beat Oster.
It was four minutes left of regulation when Colorado prospect Ritchie carried the puck into the Bulldogs zone and completely outdangled the Brantford defence before seeing Sennecke across the slot with a perfect empty net to protect their lead 5-3.
With 26 seconds remaining, Brantford’s Thomas set up Brown who got his second of the game after sneaking in undetected and tipped the puck to make it 5-4.
Sennecke then answered with the empty net insurance deposit and game-winner to wrap up the contest, push the Generals’ win streak, and take that top-place Conference title.
The Generals are back on Sunday evening against Connor Punnett’s former team, the Barrie Colts. Grab your tickets here!
