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Bulls Drop 4-2 Decision to 67’s in Exhibition Play
 Stephen Johnston scored his second goal of the preseason in the Belleville Bulls 4-2 preseason loss to the Ottawa 67's Friday night in Ottawa.
The Belleville Bulls suffered their first defeat of the 2007 preseason when they fell 4-2 to the Ottawa 67’s Friday night in Ottawa. Two Ottawa goals in the opening two minutes of the second period erased a Bulls first period lead, as the 67’s skated away with the win in the first half of their home and home series.
Belleville did score the lone goal of the first period six minutes into the opening frame on the power play when Stephen Johnston lifted a high shot over 67’s goaltender Adam Courchaine. Keaton Turkiewicz assisted on Johnston’s second goal of the preseason. The Bulls had five power play opportunities in the period but were only able to capitalize once, as they led 1-0 after twenty minutes of play. Shots on goal in the first period were 8-7 Belleville.
One minute into the second period the 67’s tied the score when Thomas Kiriakou surprised Bulls goaltender Edward Pasquale with a quick shot. Just one minute later, Ottawa took a 2-1 lead while enjoying a two man advantage when Ryan Martindale beat Pasquale between the pads. Midway through the period both sides switched goaltenders with Mike Murphy replacing Pasquale for Belleville and Chris Perugini coming in for the 67’s. Neither side was able to score for the remainder of the period, as the 67’s led 2-1 after two periods. Shots on goal in the second period were 13-8 Ottawa.
67’s first round pick Michael Latta scored the eventual game winning goal just before the seven minute mark of the third period when he beat Murphy. The Bulls were able to cut the lead to a single goal with less than one minute remaining in the third period while on the power play when Turkiewicz fired a shot past Perugini during a scramble in front of the goal. Cory Tanaka and Tyler Randell assisted on the goal. However, that was as close as the Bulls would get, as the 67’s rounded out the scoring with ten seconds remaining in the game when Matthieu Methot fired the puck into the empty Bulls net. Shots on goal in the third period were 13-6 Ottawa and overall favoured the 67’s 33-22.
Pasquale and Murphy split the goaltending duties once again for the Bulls making 15 and 14 saves respectively. Courchaine and Perugini picked up the victory in goal for Ottawa. The Bulls finished the game two for ten on the power play while Ottawa scored once in five tries with the man advantage. With the loss, the Bulls exhibition record falls to 0-1-1 while Ottawa improves to 1-0-0 with the victory. The Bulls and 67’s will complete the backend of their home and home preseason series Saturday night in Belleville. Game time is 7:15pm at the Yardmen Arena and tickets are available at the Bulls Box Office.
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