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Bulls Comeback for 4-3 Overtime Victory over Kitchener in Round Robin Finale
 Mike Murphy made 54 saves to help the Belleville Bulls defeat the Kitchener Rangers 4-3 in overtime at the 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup Wednesday night in Kitchener.
The Belleville Bulls improved their record to 2-1 at the 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup with a dramatic 4-3 come from behind overtime victory over the Kitchener Rangers Wednesday night in Kitchener. For the second time in the tournament, the Bulls erased a 3-0 first period deficit, this time completing the comeback in overtime. Belleville and Kitchener will now face each other in the Memorial Cup semi-final on Friday night with the winner to face the Spokane Chiefs in the championship final.
Both teams came out hard to begin the game, forcing both Mike Murphy and Josh Unice to make several good saves early to keep the game scoreless. Kitchener was able to open the scoring eight minutes into the first period just after a Bulls penalty had expired when Scott Tregunna fired a rebound past Murphy following a goalmouth scramble. The Rangers extended their lead to 2-0 with eight and a half minutes remaining in the opening frame while on the power play when Mikkel Boedker one-timed a bullet shot from a Justin Azevedo cross-ice pass past Murphy. Kitchener then scored their second power play goal of the period just one minute later when Yannick Weber’s point shot hit a Belleville defender and deflected past Murphy. The Rangers pressed to extend their lead but Murphy was strong to keep the score 3-0. The Bulls had a glorious chance to get back into the game late in the first period when they enjoyed a lengthy two man power play advantage but they could not beat Kitchener’s penalty kill and Unice, as the score remained 3-0 after twenty minutes of play. Shots on goal in the first period were 13-7 Kitchener.
The Bulls were able to cut the lead to 3-1 when they scored their third shorthanded goal of the tournament seven and a half minutes into the second period. Matthias stole the puck from a Rangers defender before breaking in and snapping a shot between the pads of Unice for his fourth goal of the tournament. Cory Tanaka then cut the lead to 3-2 with seven minutes remaining in the middle frame when he took a Matt Beleskey pass and broke in on Unice before snapping a shot past the Rangers goaltender. P.K. Subban also assisted on Tanaka’s fourth goal of the tournament. Murphy continued his excellent play in the second period, as Kitchener led 3-2 after two periods of play. Shots on goal in the second period were 12-12.
Belleville tied the game just twenty seconds into the third period on the power play when Subban fired a bullet slapshot past Unice for his first goal of the tournament. Beleskey and Adam Perry assisted on the goal. Kitchener pressed hard during the third period to regain their lead and enjoyed two power plays but Murphy was sensational to keep the game tied. Shots on goal in the third period favoured the Rangers 26-7.
In overtime, both teams had early chances to end the game but both Murphy and Unice continued to each make excellent saves. Keaton Turkiewicz ended the game nine minutes into the extra stanza when he chipped a rebound from a Matthias shot past Unice for his second goal of the tournament. Shawn Lalonde also assisted on the goal. Shots on goal in overtime were 6-3 Kitchener and overall favoured the Rangers 57-29.
Murphy was outstanding in goal for the Bulls, making 54 saves to earn the victory while Unice stopped 25 shots in a losing effort for Kitchener. Belleville finished the game two for five on the power play while the Rangers converted twice in seven opportunities with the man advantage. The Bulls also added a shorthanded goal. The three stars of the game were Murphy, Boedker, and Beleskey. Friday’s game is a 7:00pm start in Kitchener and can be seen live on Rogers Sportsnet.
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