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Bulls Defeat Wolves 6-4 to Snap Two Game Losing Streak
 Jan Mursak recorded two goals and an assist in the Belleville Bulls 6-4 victory over the Sudbury Wolves Saturday night at the Yardmen Arena.
For the third consecutive night, the Belleville Bulls played in a 6-4 game including a late empty net goal. Fortunately for the Bulls, this time they were on the winning end, defeating the Sudbury Wolves at the Yardmen Arena on Saturday night. The win is the Bulls third in as many games against Sudbury this season.
It was Sudbury who got off to an extremely quick start, opening the scoring less than a minute and a half into the game when Jared Staal picked up a loose puck in the slot after it had rebounded off the end boards and fired it past Mike Murphy in the Bulls net. Despite allowing the early goal, Belleville worked hard to even the score and were able to do so eight and half minutes into the period when P.K. Subban one-timed a rocket shot from the point past Wolves goaltender Andrew Loverock. Jan Mursak picked up the lone assist on Subban’s seventh goal of the season. Mursak then gave the Bulls a 2-1 lead on the power play with six minutes remaining in the opening frame when he tipped a perfect cross-ice pass from Adam Perry as he drove towards the Wolves net. Bryan Cameron also assisted on Mursak’s 12th goal of the season. Sudbury quickly responded less than two minutes later when rookie Brett Thompson blasted a shot from the wing past Murphy. However, Belleville was quick to regain their lead just 42 seconds later when Chris Mifflen stole the puck from a Wolves defender and drove to the net before sliding the puck between the pads of Loverock for his second goal of the season. Shots on goal in the first period were 15-10 Belleville.
The Bulls quickly added to their lead just 24 seconds into the second period on the power play when Keaton Turkiewicz one-timed a beautiful cross-crease pass from Andrew Self past Loverock. Shawn Matthias also earned an assist on Turkiewicz’s 21st goal of the season. Despite allowing an early goal, it was the Wolves who dominated the majority of the second period, as they forced Murphy to make several excellent saves to keep the Bulls ahead 4-2. Sudbury’s hard work finally paid off eleven minutes into the second period when Thompson made a great move before firing a pass to John Kurtz who roofed the puck overtop of Murphy. The Wolves then tied the score on the power play with two and a half minutes remaining in the middle frame when Patrik Lusnak one-timed an Eric O’Dell pass from behind the net past Murphy. As was the case in the first period, the Bulls were quick to re-establish their lead, going ahead 5-4 just 54 seconds later when a Wolves clearing attempt hit Turkiewicz and deflected right to Mursak who quickly put the puck past a surprised Loverock for his second goal of the game and 13th of the season. Shots on goal in the second period were 13-11 Sudbury.
Belleville enjoyed two early power plays to begin the third period but could not beat Loverock despite significant pressure around the Wolves goal. Sudbury then enjoyed a pair of power plays midway through the third period but could not penetrate a strong Bulls penalty kill. Murphy was again strong when called upon in the final frame while the Bulls defence was also very strong to preserve the victory. Cory Tanaka rounded out the scoring by firing the puck into the empty net with just 30 seconds remaining in the game. Perry and Matt Beleskey assisted on Tanaka’s career high 12th goal of the season. Shots on goal in the third period were 11-8 Belleville and overall favoured the Bulls 37-31.
Murphy made 27 saves in goal for the Bulls to earn his 27th victory of the season while Loverock made 31 stops in the loss for Sudbury. Belleville finished the game two for five on the power play while the Wolves converted once in five opportunities with the man advantage. The three stars of the game were Mursak, O’Dell, and Self. With the win, the Bulls improve their record to 34-12-3-2 while the Wolves fall to 12-36-1-2 with the loss. Belleville is now off until Thursday night when they will travel to Peterborough to face the Petes. Prior to that, Murphy, Cameron, Beleskey, Matthias, and Subban will be traveling to Sault Ste. Marie on Tuesday and Wednesday to participate in the 2008 OHL All-Star Classic. Next home game for the Bulls is on Saturday, February 9th when the Plymouth Whalers will make their lone trip to Belleville this season. Game time is 7:15pm at the Yardmen Arena and tickets are available at the Bulls Box Office.
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