PLYMOUTH, MI - Early game struggles became late game tension for the second time in as many nights on the Bulls' current Western Conference road trip this weekend. Falling behind 4-1 after twenty minutes, the Bulls put forth a great effort in the game's latter fourty but their hard work wasn't enough as the Plymouth Whalers took a 4-3 decision at the Compuware Arena.

It definately wasn't the start the Bulls were looking for on Friday night, as Dario Trutmann buried the first shot the Plymouth Whalers took on a rocket from the point that evaded Malcolm Subban just 38 seconds into the game.

The Bulls managed to collect themselves after being badly outplayed in the game's opening minutes. Subban provided some key saves as the Whalers' physical approach was forcing turnovers in the Belleville zone. At 7:37, Daniil Zharkov notched his twelfth goal of the season with some nifty play from below the Plymouth goal line. Cycling with linemates Brendan Gaunce and Austen Brassard, Zharkov dragged the puck out from down low on his backhand and stuffed it inside the post past an unsuspecting Scott Wedgewood who had lost track of the puck.

The Bulls lost rookie winger Mack Lemmon moments later as some scrambled play inside the Belleville zone allowed the Whalers to get in a quick line change. Coming off the bench, big power forward Jamie Devane lined Lemmon up against the half wall and delivered a hard check that sent the winger to the ice. Lemmon did not return to the game.

The Whalers opened the floodgates of their aquarium at 14:24 as Ottawa Senators first round draft pick Stefan Noesen displayed great hand-eye co-ordination on a shot from the point to get himself on the scoresheet. The Bulls lost a battle along the wall inside their own zone, prompting the puck to slip back to the point where Austin Levi unloaded, finding Noesen for a tip over the shoulder of Subban along the way.

Plymouth kept coming on the powerplay at 15:38 as Jason Shaw made his way to the penalty box. A failed clearing attempt gave Beau Schmitz all the time in the world to make a great cross-ice feed to Mitchell Heard who buried a hard wrister up high on Subban for his sixteenth of the year.

The Whalers closed out the first period scoring when another turnover came back to bite the Bulls. A quick transition left Malcolm Subban all alone with three collapsing Whalers as JT Miller finished on a great tic-tac-toe play in the slot at 17:31.

The Bulls went to the dressing room deflated and down 4-1 on the scoreboard, being outchanced 12-1 and looking as if they hadn't yet found their game as they didn't early on Thursday night in Windsor.

As they did in Windsor though, the Bulls came out inspired for the second period as coaches Jake Grimes and Jason Supryka had a few words for the boys. As a result, Belleville had more jump deep in their own zone and didn't allow the Whalers to continue pounding them off the forecheck.

Hard work began paying off on the penalty kill midway through the second as Luke Judson caught a break and didn't miss on his opportunity. Beau Schmitz wasn't able to handle a rolling puck at the blueline as Judson was off to the races, beating Wedgewood to bring the Bulls back to within two at 12:56. 

From that point onward, a different Bulls team took to the ice as they were relentless, battling for pucks and supporting their defencemen by making themselves available for outlet passes. Offensively, Belleville began testing Wedgewood more frequently in the Plymouth goal. The New Jersey Devils prospect who attends the Canadian National Junior Selection Camp in Calgary this month battled the puck throughout the game and was continually losing track of rebounds.

The Bulls outshot Plymouth 12-8 in the second but were unable to get their powerplay off the ground and trailed 4-2.

Belleville entered the third frame on the man advantage and poured the pressure on the Plymouth defence. After sustained force on the powerplay, the offensive control translated into some great five-on-five play by the Brahmas in the period to follow.

Brendan Gaunce blazed down the left wing at the fourteen minute mark and beat Wedgewood with a shot but wasn't able to beat the crossbar. Moments later Judson was denied on a nice deflection he coordinated on a low shot from the point by Brady Austin. The Bulls were trying everything, but simply couldn't find a way to tickle the twine.

Finally, at 11:57, the powerplay struck as Brendan Gaunce found a lane from the point and wristed a puck into the top corner of Wedgewood's net for his team-leading seventeenth goal of the year.

The Bulls put forth a mighty fine effort the rest of the way as Scott Simmonds hit iron, Austen Brassard was stopped on a close play from down low and Stephen Silas had a puck hop over his stick through the slot with just three seconds remaining. Full marks to the Bulls for finishing strong in one of the toughest rinks in the Ontario Hockey League. The Bulls are now an all-time 4-17-1 at the Compuware Arena.

Some late game physicality between Adam Payerl and Jamie Devane will make for an interesting grudge match between the two teams next Saturday, December 17th at the Yardmen. After laying out Bulls captain Luke Judson on a hit from behind, Devane was approached by Payerl who immediately dropped the mitts with the 6 foot 5, 220 pound winger. Pushing and shoving between Daniil Zharkov and Mitchell Heard after the final buzzer also saw tempers flare as the Whalers snuffed out their 20th victory of the season. 

Stephen Silas was named the game's third star as he provided an assist for the Bulls who will look to salvage the road trip on Saturday night in Saginaw at 7:11pm. The Spirit are 11-17-0-2 on the season and lost 4-3 in a shootout back on November 12th at the Yardmen. Jack Miller goes live at 6:55pm with pre-game coverage on AM 800 CJBQ.