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Bulls Win Third Straight, 6-3 over Plymouth
 Cory Tanaka recorded two assists against his old team in a 6-3 victory over the Plymouth Whalers Saturday night at the Yardmen Arena.
For the second consecutive game, the Belleville Bulls used a big third period en route to a 6-3 victory. Belleville scored three unanswered third period goals to break open a tight game with the Plymouth Whalers and skate away with the win Saturday night at the Yardmen Arena. The Bulls outscored their opponents 7-0 in the third period in two victories this week.
The Bulls got off to an outstanding start, opening the scoring just a little over one minute into the game when Adam Perry one-timed a Jan Mursak cross-ice pass past Whalers goaltender Matt Hackett as he drove towards the Plymouth net. Matt Beleskey also earned an assist on Perry’s 25th goal of the season. The goal was also Perry’s 100th of his OHL career. Plymouth had a glorious chance to tie the score five and a half minutes into game when they enjoyed a two man power play advantage for a full two minutes but were unable to beat an outstanding Bulls penalty killing unit. Belleville then went ahead 2-0 nine minutes into the opening frame after significant pressure in the Plymouth zone when Stephen Blunden drove the puck to the net and jammed it past Hackett. Stephen Johnston and Tyler Randell earned assists on Blunden’s ninth goal of the season. Plymouth quickly cut the lead back to a single goal just 20 seconds later when Ryan Hayes flipped a rebound past Bulls goaltender Mike Murphy. Mursak restored the Bulls two goal lead with two and a half minutes remaining in the period when he was able to split his way between two Whalers defenders and fire a quick shot past Hackett. Beleskey and Geoff Killing assisted on Mursak’s 15th goal of the season. Once again, Plymouth quickly responded, pulling back to within a goal less than one minute later when Andrew Fournier flipped a shot overtop of Murphy from the side of the net after a Bulls turnover. Despite five goals in the first period, both Murphy and Hackett were strong, as each goaltender made several terrific saves. Shots on goal in the first period were 13-10 Plymouth.
Plymouth tied the score just four minutes into the middle frame when Fournier tipped Hayes cross-ice pass past Murphy as he drove towards the Bulls net for his second goal of the game. Both teams pressed for the go ahead goal throughout the remainder of the middle frame but solid defence and great goaltending kept the game tied 3-3 heading into the final twenty minutes of play. Shots on goal in the second period favoured the Whalers 13-7.
The Bulls dominated the third period from the start, taking a 4-3 lead three minutes into the final stanza when Shawn Matthias took a Cory Tanaka pass and backhanded the puck past Hackett for what turned out to be the eventual game winning goal. The goal was Matthias’ 22nd of the season. Nick Pageau then put Belleville ahead 5-3 on the power play six minutes into the third period when he fired a rebound past Hackett after the Whalers goaltender had stopped Bryan Cameron on the initial shot. Cameron and Tanaka assisted on Pageau’s fifth goal of the season. The Bulls continued to press, forcing Hackett to make several great saves to keep the score at 5-3. Belleville was able to round out the scoring with four and a half minutes remaining in the game when Shawn Lalonde one-timed a Cameron cross-ice pass from the face-off circle past Hackett. Matthias also assisted on Lalonde’s eighth goal of the season. Shots on goal in the third period were 18-4 Belleville and overall favoured the Bulls 35-30.
Murphy played another strong game in goal for the Bulls, stopping 27 shots to earn his 28th victory of the season. Hackett also had a good game, making 29 saves in a losing effort for the Whalers. The Bulls finished the game one for four on the power play while an excellent penalty kill kept the Whalers scoreless in five opportunities with the man advantage. The three stars of the game were Tanaka, Matthias, and Fournier. With the win, the Bulls improve their record to 36-12-3-2 and remain in first place in the Eastern Conference. Plymouth falls to 29-20-2-2 with the loss. The Bulls are now off until Wednesday when they will play host to the Niagara IceDogs. Game time is 7:15pm at the Yardmen Arena and tickets are available at the Bulls Box Office. Season ticket holders are reminded that Wednesday’s game is the final season ticket holder raincheck night of the season.
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