|
Bulls Clinch Eastern Conference Regular Season Title with 4-3 Shootout Victory over Mississauga
 Bryan Cameron scored twice in the Belleville Bulls 4-3 shootout victory over the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors Friday night in Mississauga.
The Belleville Bulls clinched their second regular season Eastern Conference Championship in their history with a 4-3 shootout victory over the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors Friday night in Mississauga. Belleville also set a new team record for wins in a season with 45 while Mike Murphy notched his 34 victory of the season, also setting a club record. The win gives the Bulls a perfect 4-0 record against Mississauga this season.
It was the Majors who jumped out to an early lead four minutes into the game when Jeff Barletta’s point shot made its way through traffic and past Murphy. Despite falling behind early, it was the Bulls who controlled the majority of the opening period, forcing Majors goaltender Anthony Grieco to make several outstanding saves throughout the period. Belleville was able to tie the score eight and a half minutes into the period on the power play when Bryan Cameron tipped a Nigel Williams point shot past Grieco to extend his point streak to six games. Eric Tangradi also assisted on Cameron’s 36th goal of the season. Despite significant pressure, the Bulls were unable to score the go ahead goal and the game remained tied 1-1 after twenty minutes of play. Shots on goal in the first period were 11-6 Belleville.
Both sides played good defensive hockey during the opening moments of the second period, as neither team was able to generate much offence during the first half of the middle frame. The game featured a scary moment eight and a half minutes into the second period when Bulls forward Jan Mursak was hit awkwardly into the boards. Mursak stayed down for a lengthy period of time and was taken off the ice on a stretcher. No word on his condition is currently available. The Majors were then able to retake the lead with eight and a half minutes remaining in the period when Kyle Neuber jammed a loose puck past Murphy from the side of the net. The Bulls penalty killing unit then came up with an outstanding effort, killing off a five minute Majors power play. Belleville was able to even the score with just over two minutes remaining in the period when Cameron took a Cory Tanaka pass and slid the puck past Grieco while falling to the ice for his second goal of the game. P.K. Subban also assisted on Cameron’s 37th goal of the season. The tie score was short-lived, as the Majors took a 3-2 lead just 14 seconds later when Dustin Ekelman beat Murphy on a rebound after the Bulls goaltender had stopped the original shot. Shots on goal in the second period favoured the Bulls 10-9, as they trailed 3-2 heading to the third period.
The Bulls came out hard to begin the third period, forcing Grieco to make several outstanding saves to keep his team ahead. Belleville’s pressure finally paid off with five minutes remaining in the third period when Keaton Turkiewicz jammed a loose puck past Grieco on a wraparound. Subban and Stephen Johnston earned assists on Turkiewicz’s 23rd goal of the season. The Bulls continued to press during the final five minutes of play but were unable to beat Grieco, as the game headed to overtime. Shots on goal in the third period were 27-9 Belleville.
Belleville had a glorious chance to win the game in overtime when they enjoyed a power play but despite significant puck possession and pressure, they were unable to score. Following the Bulls power play neither side generated much offence and the game headed to a shootout. Shots on goal in overtime were 1-0 Mississauga.
In the shootout, Grieco stopped both Cameron and Adam Perry while Michael Pelech beat Murphy on the Majors second shot to give Mississauga two chances to win. Murpphy first stopped Casey Cizikas with a highlight reel save before Turkiewicz beat Grieco with a pretty deke to send the shootout to a sudden death round. Murphy stopped Cameron Gaunce before Subban ripped a shot past Grieco for his second shootout winner in less than two weeks. Final shots on goal favoured the Bulls 49-25.
Murphy was solid when tested, stopping 22 shots to earn his record setting 34th victory of the season. Grieco was also excellent, making 45 saves in a losing effort for the Majors. The Bulls finished the game one for five on the power play while holding the Majors scoreless in six chances with the man advantage. The three stars of the game were Grieco, Cameron, and Pelech. With the win, the Bulls improve their record to 45-13-4-2 while Mississauga moves to 29-31-2-2 with the shootout defeat. The East Division Championship is Belleville’s second in a row and fourth in team history. The Bulls will now wrap up their weekend on Saturday night when they will play host to the Barrie Colts for the only time this regular season. Game time is 7:15pm at the Yardmen Arena and tickets are available at the Bulls Box Office. Saturday’s game is sponsored by Culligan and will feature the final qualifier for the McDougall Insurance Million Dollar Shootout.
| 
