|
Bulls Fall 3-2 to Greyhounds
 Mike Murphy made 32 saves in a losing effort, as the Belleville Bulls dropped a 3-2 contest to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Friday night in Sault Ste. Marie.
The Belleville Bulls played a tight road game but found themselves on the losing end of a 3-2 decision to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Friday night in Sault Ste. Marie. The Greyhounds, currently ranked number one in Canada, got a power play goal midway through the third period to break a 2-2 deadlock and skate away with their league leading eleventh victory of the season.
The Bulls got off to a terrific start opening the scoring on the power play just four minutes into the game when Shawn Matthias lifted a puck over Greyhounds goaltender Kyle Gajewski from in tight. Bryan Cameron and Eric Tangradi earned assists on Matthias’ team leading ninth goal of the season. Sault Ste. Marie was quick to respond, tying the score less than four minutes later when Chris MacKinnon spun and fired a shot that hit Arron Alphonso and deflected past Bulls goaltender Mike Murphy. Both teams skated very hard in what was a fast paced, physical first period of play while both Murphy and Gajewski were sharp in goal for their respective sides. Shots on goal in the first period were 14-12 Belleville.
The torrid pace of the game continued into the second period, as both teams pressed hard for the go ahead goal. Once again, Murphy and Gajewski were very strong to keep the game tied heading into the third period. Both teams had multiple power play chances in the period but were unable to breakthrough, as shots on goal in the second period favoured the Greyhounds 14-9.
The Greyhounds took their first lead of the night just three minutes into the third period when James Livingston was left all alone at the side of the Bulls goal where he fired a rebound past Murphy. This time it was the Bulls who were quick to respond and tie the game just six minutes into the period on another power play when Keaton Turkiewicz wired a perfect shot past Gajewski. Cameron and Cory Tanaka assisted on Turkiewicz’s eighth goal of the season. Sault Ste. Marie then retook the lead on a power play of their own nine and a half minutes into the period when Dustin Jeffrey beat Murphy with a quick shot for what turned out to be the eventual game winning goal. The Bulls pressed for the equalizing goal during the second half of the third period but could not beat Gajewski to tie the score. Murphy was outstanding in net during the late stages of the third period to keep to Greyhounds from adding an insurance goal but it was not enough, as the Bulls dropped just their second game in regulation this season. Shots on goal in the third period favoured the Bulls 12-9 and overall finished tied 35-35.
Murphy enjoyed another strong game in a losing effort making 32 saves while Gajewski was also very good, stopping 33 shots to earn his league leading eleventh win of the season. The Bulls power play continued to be productive scoring twice in nine chances with the man advantage while the Greyhounds scored once in six opportunities. The three stars of the game were Jeffrey, Murphy, and Gajewski. Friday’s game marked the first time all season that the Bulls were able to dress a full lineup. With the loss, the Bulls drop to 7-2-0-1 and are now tied with the Oshawa Generals for first place in the East Division. Sault Ste. Marie improves to a league best 11-0-1-0 with the win. The Bulls will now look to rebound Saturday night when they travel to Sudbury to face the Wolves. Belleville’s next home game is Wednesday night when the Oshawa Generals make their second trip to the Yardmen Arena this season. Game time is 7:15pm at the Yardmen Arena and tickets are available at the Bulls Box Office for this match-up of East Division leaders.
| 
