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Bulls Earn Impressive 6-2 Victory over Erie
 Eric Tangradi had two goals and an assist in the Belleville Bulls 6-2 victory over the Erie Otters Saturday night at the Yardmen Arena.
The Belleville Bulls put forth a very strong offensive effort en route to a 6-2 victory over the Erie Otters Saturday night at the Yardmen Arena. The Bulls seemed to be in control of the game from the beginining, firing 68 shots at the Otters net. Belleville finishes the season series earning three out of a possible four points against Erie.
The Bulls got off to a quick start, opening the scoring just two minutes into the opening period when Eric Tangradi fired a rebound from a Jan Mursak shot past Otters goaltender Jaroslav Janus for his 16th goal of the season. The assist was Mursak’s first point as a Bull. Belleville continued to press throughout the early stages of the game but Janus was very strong to keep the Otters deficit at just one goal. It was Erie who was able to tie the game nine minutes into the first period when Luke Gazdic put a rebound between the pads of Bulls goaltender Mike Murphy. The Bulls quickly responded, retaking the lead just over two minutes later when Andrew Self fought off a check and beat Janus on a wraparound. Shawn Lalonde and Cory Tanaka earned assists on Self’s ninth goal of the season. Tangradi extended the Belleville lead to 3-1 with just over six minutes remaining in the period while on the power play when he beat Janus with a low, hard shot from the slot. Mursak and Matt Beleskey earned assists on Tangradi’s second goal of the game and 17th of the season. The Bulls then extended their lead to 4-1 with a little over three minutes remaining in the period on another power play when Bryan Cameron fired a rebound from a Self shot past Janus. Tanaka also assisted on Cameron’s 18th goal of the season. Erie was able to cut the lead to 4-2 just 50 seconds later when Gazdic scored his second goal of the period when he beat Murphy with a quick shot from the side boards that surprised the Bulls goaltender. Shots on goal in the first period were 21-9 Belleville, as they led 4-2 after twenty minutes of play.
The Bulls offence continued to press throughout the second period, forcing Janus to make numerous outstanding saves to keep the game close. Belleville was finally able to go ahead 5-2 midway through the period when Nigel Williams one-timed a bullet shot past Janus from the point just after an Otters penalty had expired. Tangradi and Nick Pageau assisted on Williams’ sixth goal of the season and first as a Bull. Cameron then gave the Bulls a 6-2 lead in the final minute of the middle frame when he picked up a loose puck at the side of the Otters net and fired it past Janus. Self and Keaton Turkiewicz earned assists on Cameron’s second goal of the game and 19th of the season. Shots on goal in the second period favoured the Bulls 27-14.
Shane Owen replaced Janus in the Otters goal to begin the final frame and the Bulls offence welcomed him to the game with a barrage of shots early in the period. Owen played well to keep the score at 6-2 while Murphy was also strong in the Belleville net over the final two periods. Neither side was able to score in the third period, as the Bulls skated away with the 6-2 victory. Shots on goal in the third period were 20-7 Belleville and overall favoured the Bulls 68-30.
Murphy played another solid game in goal for Belleville stopping 28 shots to earn his 17th victory of the season while Janus and Owen were also very strong for Erie despite the loss, making 42 and 20 saves respectively. The Bulls power play finished the game two for seven while Erie failed to score in two chances with the man advantage. The three stars of the game were Tangradi, Self, and Cameron. With the win, the Bulls record improves to 21-9-3-2, as they remain one point behind the Oshawa Generals for first place in the Eastern Conference. Erie falls to 8-24-2-1 with the loss. The Bulls are now off until Tuesday when they will play host to the Peterborough Petes in their annual new Years Day matinee game. Game time is 2:00pm at the Yardmen Arena and tickets are available at the Bulls Box Office.
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