Generational Win
OSHAWA, ON- The Brampton Steelheads finish their three-game road trip with a 4-2 win over the Oshawa Generals. Brayden Gillespie put up an exceptional performance, saving 29 out of 31 shots.
The Steelheads ended their three-game road trip in Oshawa as they took on the Generals. Coming off a big win against the Sudbury Wolves and following a loss against the North Bay Battalion, the Steelheads looked to bring home one more win, and they did just that.
While the Steelheads maintained a great offence and an even better defence, it was Gillespie’s performance between the pipes that secured the Trout’s victory. Saving 29 out of the 31 shots faced, Gillespie showed his strength as he made several sequences of saves from sharp angles.
The first period saw a lot of back-and-forth between the teams, but the Trout establishing a strong defence paired with great zone breakouts allowed them to take control and gain the lead.
After a successful penalty kill after Stevie Leskovar was called for hooking, the Steelheads got their chance for special teams after Luca D’Amato’s holding penalty. With the man advantage, the Trout immediately got into action and pushed offensively to get pucks on the net.
While the Generals kept the Steelheads at bay for the power play, in the seconds that followed, Mason Zebeski got the game’s ice breaker. Konnor Smith got things started by sending the puck down to Angus MacDonell in the corner. Carrying the puck around the faceoff dot into the high slot, MacDonell fired it on goal. Having been waiting out front, Zebeski tipped the puck into the net to make it 1-0.
Alongside getting the game’s icebreaker, Zebeski played a strong defensive period with a good backcheck and made his presence known out front, especially on the penalty kill after Parker von Richter was called for tripping. Brayden Gillespie also played an excellent period between the pipes, which continued into the second as he faced several sequences of shots.
Going into the second with a one-goal lead, the Steelheads looked to continue the momentum to increase their score, and they did just that. Jack Van Volsen and Gabriel Chiarot started the period off with a scoring opportunity as they made several shots on Jacob Oster, hoping to get one between the pipes, yet found no success. Instead, the second goal would come on the power play.
After Noah Powell was called for high sticking, the Trout immediately got things rolling in the offensive zone. Getting the puck in the corner, Carson Rehkopf sent the puck up to Finn Harding at the point. Seeing the traffic out front, Harding fired it on the net, allowing Porter Martone to tip it past Oster.
Despite the efforts from the Steelheads, the Generals did not back down easily and went on to tie the game. Oshawa’s starting five showed how strong they were as they scored the General’s two goals of the game.
Beckett Sennecke got the first goal off a 3-on-2 play. Calum Ritchie brought the play into the Steelheads zone before getting it past the defence at the blue line and sending it over to Sennecke. Sennecke brought the puck into the high slot using his speed before firing it past Gillespie.
Not quite satisfied with one point this game, Sennecke added an assist to his tally, his 200th of his career, to set up Ben Danford for the equalizing goal. Zackary Sandhu sent the initial shot on goal from the point but was covered off by Gillespie. The rebound was then picked up by Sennecke in the corner and brought out front for an awaiting Danford, who had stepped up from the point to fire it into the goal.
The second period would end in a tie, setting up for a high-energy third as each team fought for the lead. Alongside some big hits, the third was a battle between goalies as Gillespie and Oster went back and forth with incredible saves.
Yet, Troy Patton got one past Oster to give the Steelheads the lead. MacGregor Richmond made a pass to Patton at the General’s blue line, setting him up for a 2-on-1 play with Julian Demiglio. Going back and forth with passes, the two faked out Oster before Patton fired the final shot into the goal to make it 3-2.
The Generals attempted the battleback in the remaining minutes, even pulling their goalie for the extra attacker. Yet, their loss was secured in the final minute of play as Luke Misa got the puck out of the Steelheads zone, allowing Van Volsen to score the insurance goal and bring home a 4-2 victory.
The Steelheads look to bring home a win at home on Monday as they take on the Niagara IceDogs. For tickets, click here.
