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Bulls Fall 2-1 to 67’s in Exhibition Play
 Goaltender Mike Murphy made 36 saves in a losing effort, as the Belleville Bulls lost 2-1 to the Ottawa 67's Saturday night at the Yardmen Arena.
Two Ottawa 67’s goals in a span of less than three minutes during the third period were enough to erase a 1-0 Belleville Bulls lead en route to 2-1 victory Saturday night at the Yardmen Arena. The two sides played a very defensive game in which quality scoring chances were few and far between.
The first period featured very few scoring chances despite each side enjoying three power play opportunities. Both Mike Murphy and Chris Perugini were solid when called upon during the opening frame, as the game remained scoreless heading into the second period. Shots on goal in the first period favoured the 67’s 9-4.
The Bulls opened the scoring eight and a half minutes into the second period when first round pick Tyler Randell took a pass from Stephen Johnston and broke in on a partial breakaway. Randell made a quick move behind the goal before jamming the puck past Perugini on the wraparound for a pretty goal. Darcy Rees also assisted on Randell’s first goal of the preseason. Midway through the second period Ottawa switched goaltenders with Adam Courchaine replacing Perugini. Murphy remained in the Bulls goal for the entire game. Neither side was able to generate much offence through the second half of the middle frame, as the Bulls led 1-0 after forty minutes of play. Shots on goal in the second period were 8-8.
Ottawa came out hard to start the third period but were turned aside by some excellent goaltending from Murphy. The 67’s did eventually tie the score with just less than eight minutes remaining in the period when Radim Ostrcil walked in from the blueline and blasted a bullet slapshot top corner past Murphy. Less than three minutes later the 67’s took the lead when Zach Laroche fired a rebound from a Tyler Cuma shot past a diving Murphy for what turned out to be the eventual game winning goal. The Bulls pressed to tie the score during the final five minutes of the period but were unable to beat Courchaine, as the 67’s skated away with the 2-1 victory. Shots on goal in the third period were 21-11 Ottawa and overall favoured the 67’s 38-23.
Murphy played another very strong game in goal for Belleville, making 36 saves in a losing effort. Perugini and Courchaine stopped 9 and 13 shots respectively in the win for Ottawa. The Bulls went scoreless in six power play opportunities while Ottawa also failed to score in four chances with the man advantage. With the loss, the Bulls preseason record drops to 0-2-1 while Ottawa improves to 2-0-0. The Bulls are in action next when they travel to Pickering to face the Brampton Battalion on Tuesday night before a game with the Kingston Frontenacs Thursday in Napanee. The Bulls will wrap up their exhibition schedule next Saturday night when they host the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors. Game time is 7:15pm at the Yardmen Arena and tickets are available at the Bulls Box Office.
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