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Big Third Period Lifts Bulls to 6-3 Win in Peterborough
 Matt Beleskey scored twice and added an assist in the Belleville Bulls 6-3 victory over the Peterborough Petes Thursday night in Peterborough.
Four unanswered third period goals erased a 3-2 deficit and gave the Belleville Bulls a 6-3 victory over the Peterborough Petes Thursday night in Peterborough. The win snaps a three game road losing streak and gives the Bulls a perfect 6-0 record against the Petes this season.
It was Peterborough who got off to a quick start to begin the game, as they forced Bulls goaltender Parker VanBuskirk to make several good saves to keep the game scoreless. The Petes were finally able to breakthrough on the power play eight and a half minutes into the opening frame when Kenzie Sheppard tipped Zach Bogosian’s point shot past VanBuskirk. Despite allowing the opening goal, it was the Bulls who seized momentum, as they dominated the remainder of the opening frame. Cory Tanaka tied the score with nine minutes remaining in the period when he fired a rebound from a Nigel Williams point shot past Petes goaltender Trevor Cann. Nick Pageau also assisted on Tanaka’s 13th goal of the season. The Bulls then had a terrific chance to take the lead when they enjoyed a lengthy two man power play advantage but despite several great chances they were unable to beat Cann. Both Cann and VanBuskirk were very strong in the opening frame, as the game was tied 1-1 after twenty minutes of play. Shots on goal in the first period favoured the Bulls 17-11.
The Bulls continued to press during the opening half of the middle frame thanks in large part to three consecutive power plays. Belleville was finally able to capitalize with the man advantage with nine and a half minutes remaining in the second period when Matt Beleskey made a nice individual effort before firing a shot over the shoulder of Cann. Jan Mursak and Shawn Lalonde assisted on Beleskey’s 35th goal of the season. The goal was also Beleskey’s 200th career regular season with the Bulls, as he becomes just the 22nd player in team history to accomplish this feat. Peterborough was able to tie the score with just under five minutes remaining in the second period when Zack Kassian took a pass and then made a quick spin move before backhanding the puck past VanBuskirk for a highlight reel goal. The Petes continued to press and took the lead with just 51 seconds remaining in the period on the power play when Zach Harnden tipped an Arturs Kulda point shot past VanBuskirk. Shots on goal in the second period favoured the Petes 12-10.
Mursak got Belleville back on level ground just one minute into the third period when he beat Cann with a snap shot from the high slot. Beleskey and Adam Perry assisted on Mursak’s 14th goal of the season. Andrew Self then scored what turned out to be the eventual game winning goal when he took a Keaton Turkiewicz pass and fired a quick shot just inside the goalpost past Cann for his 14th goal of the season. Perry gave the Bulls some much needed insurance on the power play with six and a half minutes remaining when P.K. Subban’s point shot deflected off his leg and past Cann. The goal was Perry’s 24th of the season. Belleville’s defence was very strong in the final period and VanBuskirk was solid when called upon to help preserve the victory. Beleskey rounded out the scoring by sliding the puck into the empty net with just 55 seconds remaining. Perry and Subban assisted on Beleskey’s team leading 36th goal of the season. Shots on goal in the third period were 14-6 Belleville and overall favoured the Bulls 41-29.
VanBuskirk was strong in goal for the Bulls, stopping 26 shots to earn his ninth victory of the season. Cann made 35 saves in a losing effort for Peterborough. The Bulls finished the game two for seven on the power play while the Petes converted twice in three opportunities with the man advantage. The three stars of the game were Perry, Sheppard, and Kassian. With the win, Belleville improves their record to 35-12-3-2 while the Petes fall to 23-25-0-3 with the loss. The Bulls are in action next on Saturday night when they will host the defending OHL Champion Plymouth Whalers. Game time is 7:15pm at the Yardmen Arena and tickets are available at the Bulls Box Office.
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