For the first time since the opening weekend of the season, the Oshawa Generals had an offensive explosion. With three games in three days, the Generals were able to light the lamp 18 times, carrying substantial leads in all 3 games.
Friday, the only loss of the weekend was to the East Division-leading Hamilton Bulldogs. The trend continued as the Bulldogs opened the scoring early in the first period forcing the Generals to play catch-up. The Generals on this occasion answered back quickly, and often. The Generals were able to take a 4-1 lead midway through the second period before Hamilton made it close with two late markers. Entering the third, the Generals held a one-goal lead with Hamilton pressing. The Bulldogs tied the game off the stick of Marian Studenic before Ben Gleason completed the hat-trick with the game-winner late in the third. The crushing defeat was not all harmful to the Generals as they were able to fight and keep pace with the hottest team in the Eastern Conference. Another high point of this game was that the Generals scored 5 goals in the game. The following players contributed: Serron Noel (2g, 1a), Renars Krastenburgs (2g, 1a), Jack Studnicka (2a), Riley Stillman (2a), Allan McShane (1g), Brendan Harrogate (1a).
The next evening, the Generals stormed their way in, and through the Barrie Molson Centre to the tune of a 7-3 drubbing over the Central Division-leading Barrie Colts. For the first time in a long time, the now high flying Generals squad opened the scoring. The Generals kept the peddle to the floor, exiting the first period with a 2-0 lead. The goal scoring continued in the second period with 3 more goals going the way of Oshawa amounting to a 5-1 lead after 40 minutes. The difference between this game and the game Friday night came in the form of goaltending, and Oshawa’s ability to hold the lead. Cole Ceci was able to stop 36/39 shots, sustaining the offense that was given to him by the hot forwards of Oshawa. With two more goals added by the Generals in the third period, they skated away with a 7-3 victory, proving themselves and rebounding from the previous meeting of these two teams. All seven goals were scored by different Oshawa Generals players, lead by the hot stick of Serron Noel (1g, 2a). Other Generals who contributed to the offensive push include Eric Henderson (3a), Dominico Commisso (1g, 1a), Allan McShane (1g, 1a), Barrie native Matt Brassard (1g, 1a), Kenny Heuther (2a), Renars Krastenburgs (1g), Jack Studnicka (1g), Hayden McCool (1g), Nick Wong (1a), Nico Gross (1a), and Sean Allen (1a).
The final and most impressive game of the weekend came in front of a home crowd of 4883. The Oshawa Generals once again exploded offensively for 6 goals, backed behind solid goaltending by Cole Ceci for the second night in a row stopping all 35 shots put his way. This game comes quickly after the last game between these two teams in which, in my opinion, a questionable goaltender interference call was made, taking away the General’s tying goal late in the third period. The team must have used it as motivation as the Generals were able to score on Steelhead goalie Jacob Ingham quickly and often. In another penalty-filled affair between the two teams, the General’s special teams came up huge in this game, which for lack of a better phrase has been a dumpster fire as of late. Coming into the game the Steelheads had one of the league’s best powerplay, but in this game, the league’s worst penalty kill was able to shut them down. Oshawa’s penalty kill was able to kill all 4 powerplays awarded to the Steelheads. The Generals were also able to score a powerplay goal, making it four games in a row scoring on the man advantage. Despite still being the league-worst, on the weekend the Generals went 4/13 on the powerplay (31%). The offense in this game once again came off of six different sticks with the scoring spread throughout the team. The following points were recorded: Kenny Heuther (1g, 1a), Danil Antropov (1g, 1a), Serron Noel (1g, 1a), Matt Brassard (2a), Jack Studnicka (1g), Eric Henderson (1g), Hayden McCool (1g), Renars Krastenburgs (1a,) Ian Blacker (1a), Brendan Harrogate (1a), Domenico Commisso (1a).
The Generals improved their record to 11-13-2-0, and look to reach .500 with a 3 game road trip to London, Windsor and Sarnia this coming weekend.
GENS LENS 