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Bulls Win Streak Hits Ten Games after Dramatic 5-4 Overtime Victory over Sarnia
 Cory Tanaka scored his second goal of the game in overtime to give the Belleville Bulls a 5-4 victory over the Sarnia Sting Saturday night at the Yardmen Arena.
The Belleville Bulls extended their winning streak to ten games with a come from behind 5-4 overtime victory over the Sarnia Sting Saturday night at the Yardmen Arena. The game featured exciting end to end play, as both sides were strong offensively. The Bulls had an early lead but needed a goal in the final minute of the third period before Cory Tanaka ended the game just 22 seconds into the extra session.
The Bulls got off to a terrific start, opening the scoring just five minutes into the first period when a shot deflected off Stephen Blunden and past Sting goaltender Tomi Karhunen. Marc Cantin and Stephen Johnston assisted on Blunden’s fourth goal of the season and second in as many games. Bryan Cameron extended Belleville’s lead to 2-0 less than two minutes later in the power play when he took a Matt Beleskey pass and fired a quick shot past Karhunen from the slot. Jan Mursak also assisted on Cameron’s 27th goal of the season. The Bulls continued to press, as they dominated the majority of the opening frame but were unable to extend their lead thanks to some great goaltending from Karhunen. The Sting seemed to find their legs late in the first period and cut the Bulls lead in half with four and half minutes remaining when Matt Martin fired a rebound from a Brett Oliphant shot past Parker VanBuskirk. Shots on goal in the first period were 14-9 Belleville.
Sarnia pressed hard for the equalizing goal early in the second period but VanBuskirk was outstanding to keep the Bulls ahead 2-1. Belleville increased their lead on the power play midway through the middle frame when Tanaka fired a loose puck past Karhunen from the top of the crease. Adam Perry and Shawn Lalonde assisted on Tanaka’s eighth goal of the season. Sarnia was able to cut the lead back to one with five minutes remaining in the period after significant pressure when former Bull Aaron Snow found Steve Reese alone at the side of the net. Reese then flipped a quick shot over the shoulder of VanBuskirk. Shots on goal in the second period favoured Sarnia 16-15.
The Sting quickly tied the score just three minutes into the third period when Martin stole the puck at his own blueline and broke in all alone on VanBuskirk before firing a high, hard shot past the Bulls goaltender for his second goal of the game. Both teams pressed for the go ahead goal during the middle stages of the third period but both Karhunen and VanBuskirk were strong to keep the game tied. Sarnia took their only lead of the game with under five minutes remaining while on a two man power play advantage when Jamie Arniel finished off a pretty passing play with Ryan Wilson and Steven Stamkos. Despite giving up the lead, the Bulls did not quit, as they pressed hard for the tying goal. Belleville’s hard work was rewarded with just 31 seconds remaining in the third period when Perry tipped Cameron’s shot past Karhunen. Beleskey also earned his second assist of the game on Perry’s 19th goal of the season. Shots on goal in the third period were 10-9 Belleville.
In overtime, Perry stole the puck from a Sting player before firing a pass to an open Tanaka in the slot. Tanaka beat Karhunen with a great shot just under the crossbar to give the Bulls the win. The goal was Tanaka’s second of the game and ninth of the season. Final shots on goal favoured the Bulls 40-34.
VanBuskirk was strong in goal for the Bulls, making 30 saves to earn his eighth victory of the season and defeat one of his former teams. Karhunen stopped 35 Belleville shots in the loss for Sarnia. The Bulls power play finished the game two for six while Sarnia scored once in five chances with the man advantage. The three stars of the game were Perry, Martin, and Cameron. With the win, the Bulls improve their record to 30-9-3-2 and maintain a three point lead over the Oshawa Generals for first place in the Eastern Conference. Sarnia moves to 23-17-2-0 with the overtime loss. The Bulls will now wrap up the weekend on Sunday afternoon with a game in Kingston against the Frontenacs. Belleville’s next home game is this Wednesday night when they will host the Oshawa Generals in a key divisional battle. Game time on Wednesday night is 7:15pm at the Yardmen Arena and tickets are available at the Bulls Box Office.
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