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Bulls Open Exhibition Schedule with a Tie
Mike Murphy and Edward Pasquale combined to make 48 saves in the Belleville Bulls 3-3 tie with the Kingston Frontenacs Wednesday night at the Yardmen Arena.
For the second consecutive season, the Belleville Bulls opened their preseason schedule with a 3-3 tie against the Kingston Frontenacs. Two third period goals by Kingston erased a two goal Bulls lead, as a young Belleville side competed hard with the Frontenacs all game long. Goaltenders Mike Murphy and Edward Pasquale combined to make 48 saves in the game. The Bulls were missing eight players from their 2006-2007 roster due to injury and NHL training camps.
After getting off to a slow start to begin the game, the Bulls picked up their play in the first period and were able to open the scoring with nine minutes remaining on a two man power play advantage. Veteran forward Cory Tanaka finished off a pretty three way passing play when he one-timed a cross-ice pass from first round pick Tyler Randell past Kingston goaltender Daryl Borden. Geoff Killing also assisted on the goal. The Frontenacs were able to tie the score with just over four minutes remaining in the period when Josh Brittain picked up a loose puck at the blueline and skated into the slot before firing a shot that beat Murphy on the stick side. The first period ended with the score tied 1-1 thanks in large part to some strong goaltending from both Murphy and Borden. Shots on goal in the first period were 13-11 Belleville.
The Bulls took a 2-1 lead three and a half minutes into the second period when Andrew Mokedanz took a pass from Dylan Thomas and fired it between the pads of Borden. Jeff Nickerson also earned an assist on the goal. The Frontenacs pressed for the equalizing goal but were unable to beat Murphy who was outstanding before being replaced by Edward Pasquale midway through the second period. Jason Guy replaced Borden in the Kingston goal at the same time. The Bulls took a two goal lead with five minutes remaining in the period when Guy could only get a piece of a Stephen Blunden shot before Stephen Johnston was able to push the puck into the goal. Shots on goal in the second period were 19-12 Kingston, as the Bulls led 3-1 after forty minutes of play.
Kingston pressed hard throughout the early stages of third period and were rewarded five minutes into the final frame when Nathan Moon picked up a loose puck into front of the goal and fired it between the pads of Pasquale. Kingston then leveled the score with nine minutes remaining in the third period while enjoying a two man advantage when Moon’s pass hit a skate and deflected past Pasquale for his second goal of the period. Kingston then had a glorious chance to take their first lead of the game with five and a half minutes remaining in the game but Pasquale stopped Robert Mignardi on a penalty shot. The Bulls enjoyed a power play of their own in the late stages of the period but were unable to beat Guy and break the deadlock. Shots on goal in the third period were 21-6 Kingston and overall favoured the Frontenacs 51-31.
Murphy and Pasquale were both terrific in goal for Belleville making 19 and 29 saves respectively while Borden and Guy also played well stopping 19 and 9 shots each for Kingston. The Bulls finished the game one for eight on the power play while Kingston scored once in seven tries with the man advantage. The Bulls preseason record now stands at 0-0-1 while Kingston is 0-0-2. The Bulls exhibiton schedule continues Friday night in Ottawa before the 67’s make the return trip to Belleville on Saturday night. Game time on Saturday is 7:15pm at the Yardmen Arena and tickets are available for the game at the Bulls Box Office.
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