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Bulls Defeat Generals 6-1 to Extend Win Streak to Nine Games
 Shawn Lalonde scored once and added two assists in the Belleville Bulls 6-1 victory over the Oshawa Generals Friday night in Oshawa.
The Belleville Bulls got an extremely solid all around effort, as they defeated the Oshawa Generals 6-1 Friday night in Oshawa to win their ninth consecutive game. Belleville grabbed an early lead and never looked back, as they frustrated the high powered Generals with strong defensive play all game long. The win also extends the Bulls lead over Oshawa for first place in the Eastern Conference to three points.
The Bulls got off to a terrific start, opening the scoring just over a minute into the game when Matt Beleskey fired a rebound from a Bryan Cameron shot past Generals goaltender Sean Perkins. Shawn Lalonde also assisted on Beleskey’s team leading 29th goal of the season. The early goal seemed to give the Bulls momentum, as they continued to press to extend their lead. Belleville went ahead 2-0 with eight and a half minutes remaining in the opening frame when Stephen Blunden skated into the Generals zone and beat Perkins with a low, hard shot from the high slot. Keaton Turkiewicz earned the lone assist on Blunden’s third goal of the season. Bulls goaltender Mike Murphy was very strong in the opening frame to keep the lead at 2-0 heading into the first intermission. Shots on goal in the first period were 16-10 Belleville. The Bulls have not allowed a first period goal against in eight straight games.
Jan Mursak gave the Bulls a 3-0 lead on the power play seven minutes into the second period when backhanded a rebound from the end boards past Perkins from the top of the crease. Beleskey and Lalonde assisted on Mursak’s 10th goal of the season. The Bulls defensive play was outstanding in the middle frame, as Oshawa was unable to generate any offence. Belleville went ahead 4-0 with eight and half minutes remaining in the period when Adam Perry beat Perkins with a low, hard shot after he had been left alone in the slot. Cameron earned the only assist on Perry’s 18th goal of the season and first as a Bull. Lalonde then increased the Bulls lead to 5-0 with two minutes remaining in the period when he tipped a perfect Cory Tanaka pass past Perkins as he drove towards the Oshawa net. Nick Pageau also assisted on Lalonde’s sixth goal of the season. Shots on goal in the second period favoured the Bulls 8-4, as they led 5-0 heading into the final twenty minutes of play.
The Bulls continued their strong defensive play into the third period to help preserve the five goal lead. Murphy was also outstanding in goal for Belleville when Oshawa was able to generate quality scoring chances. The Generals were able to break the shutout with just two minutes remaining in the game on the power play when Patrick Asselin beat Murphy with a quick shot after the puck had rebounded off the end boards. Stephen Johnston then rounded out the scoring with 28 seconds remaining in the period on the power play when he was allowed to skate off the side boards and fire a beautiful shot, top corner over Perkins for his second goal of the season. Tyler Randell assisted on the goal. Shots on goal in the third period were 9-5 Oshawa but overall favoured the Bulls 29-23.
Murphy continued his strong play in goal for the Bulls, making 22 saves to earn his 23rd victory of the season. Perkins stopped 23 shots in a losing effort for the Generals. Belleville finished the game two for seven on the power play while Oshawa scored once in five chances with the man advantage. The three stars of the game were Lalonde, Murphy, and Kory Nagy of the Generals. With the win, the Bulls improve their record to 29-9-3-2 while Oshawa falls to 28-11-1-3. Belleville now returns home to face the Sarnia Sting on Saturday night before finishing the weekend Sunday afternoon in Kingston. Game time on Saturday night is 7:15pm at the Yardmen Arena and tickets for the game are available at the Bulls Box Office.
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