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Bulls Drop Game Two 5-2 to Kitchener
 Matt Beleskey scored in a 5-2 Belleville Bulls loss to the Kitchener Rangers Friday night at the Yardmen Arena.
For the second consecutive game, the Belleville Bulls found themselves on the wrong end of a 5-2 scoreline against the Kitchener Rangers. Kitchener now leads the OHL Championship series 2-0 after Friday’s game at the Yardmen Arena. The Bulls power play continued to struggle in the loss, falling to 0 for 12 against the Rangersr. The series will now shift back to Kitchener for game three on Sunday.
As was the case in game one, the Bulls seemed to get off to a slow start but Parker Van Buskirk was outstanding to keep the game scoreless. Belleville had a glorious chance to open the scoring midway through the first period when they enjoyed a lengthy two man advantage. However, the Bulls were unable to beat Rangers goaltender Josh Unice and the Kitchener penalty kill. Matt Beleskey came the closest to opening the scoring when he hit the goalpost on the power play. The Rangers were able to open the scoring with just under two minutes remaining in the opening period when Brandon Mashinter tipped Matt Pepe’s pass past Van Buskirk from the top of the crease. Kitchener extended their lead to 2-0 just as time expired in the first period when Mike Duco fired a hard shot past Van Buskirk from the slot after tremendous Rangers pressure. Shots on goal in the first period were 16-7 Kitchener.
The Bulls came out hard to begin the middle frame, as they tried to cut into the Rangers lead. Unice was excellent during the opening half of the second period to keep his team ahead. Belleville was finally able to get on the scoreboard with five minutes remaining in the second period when Stephen Blunden jammed a loose puck past Unice from the side of the net. Kitchener restored their two goal lead just over a minute later when Matt Halischuk’s shot deflected off a pair of Bulls defenders and past Van Buskirk. The Bulls were quick to respond, pulling back to 3-2 just 18 seconds later when Beleskey blasted a shot from the high slot past Unice. Jan Mursak and P.K. Subban assisted on Beleskey’s team leading ninth goal of the playoffs. The goal extended Beleskey's point streak to a league leading 15 games. Belleville pressed for the remainder of the period for the equalizing goal but could not beat Unice. Shots on goal in the second period favoured the Bulls 11-9.
Belleville again had a glorious opportunity to tie the game early in the third period when they enjoyed another lengthy two man power play advantage that they were unable to capitalize on. The Rangers got a much needed insurance goal nine and a half minutes into the third period when Mikkel Boedker broke in on Van Buskirk before lifting a terrific backhand past the Bulls goaltender. Justin Azevedo then rounded out the scoring on an odd man rush with six minutes remaining in the game when he snapped a hard shot past Van Buskirk. Shots on goal in the third period were 10-7 Kitchener and overall favoured the Rangers 35-25.
Van Buskirk played well, stopping 30 shots in a losing effort while Unice was also excellent, making 23 saves to earn the victory for Kitchener. The Bulls power play continued to struggle, failing to score in seven chances while the Rangers were also held scoreless in seven opportunities with the man advantage. The three stars of the game were Boedker, Duco, and Eric Tangradi. Tangradi played a strong physical game for Belleville, dishing out several thunderous bodychecks. Game three of the series will be played Sunday in Kitchener at 5:00pm. Sunday’s game will be shown live on Rogers Sportsnet. Game four of the series is back in Belleville on Tuesday night. Game time is 7:15pm at the Yardmen Arena and tickets are available at the Bulls Box Office.
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