BELLEVILLE, ON - Just as they did a week ago at Compuware Arena, the Belleville Bulls finished strong. On Saturday night at the Yardmen however, the Bulls came away on the winning side of the battle lines in another tangle with the Plymouth Whalers. Dylan Corson was named the game's first star as the Bulls ended a four game drought with a 5-1 decision. 

A pair of league-leading goaltenders in Belleville's Malcolm Subban and Plymouth's Matt Mahalak squared off between the pipes, as Subban outdueled his counterpart and went on to make 33 saves to give the Bulls a win headed into the Christmas break.

The Bulls came out with fire in their stride, trying to make immense for a tough outing on Wednesday night against the Kingston Frontenacs. Belleville scored in their first shift as a great cycle play resulted in Austen Brassard's 14th goal of the season. After the Plymouth netminder Mahalak shutout the Oshawa Generals on Friday, it took the Bulls just 48 seconds to beat the Monroe, Michigan native as Brassard slipped a low shot through the legs of the Whalers goaltender.

Fired up with the wind at their backs, the Bulls tried to match Plymouth's physical style in the moments to follow as Corson, Garrett Hooey and Scott Simmonds worked hard off the forecheck. 

Luke Judson nearly gave the Bulls a 2-0 lead just over a minute later when he streaked down the middle, taking a hard pass from Brendan Gaunce but was unable to beat Mahalak through the legs.

The OHL West Division leading Whalers got their first solid opportunity at the twelve minute mark of the opening frame when ex-Oshawa General Cody Payne was turned aside not once, but twice by the pad of Subban. The big centreman from Weston, Florida had two glorious chances from point blank range but couldn't pull his Whalers even.

The Whalers found their stride in the final five minutes of the first period as a familiar face helped put Plymouth on the board. Longtime former Bull Andy Bathgate took a great feed from Nick Malysa at the Belleville blueline, cutting in to setup Danny Vanderwiel for his first career OHL goal. Bathgate's solid playmaking abilities certainly haven't faded since his departure from Belleville and Vanderwiel's milestone marker was sound evidence of that.

Plymouth had the Bulls on the ropes for the remaining moments of the period as Subban was steady between the pipes to keep the game tied headed to the intermission.

The two rough n' tumble clubs played a penalty free first period as Belleville took the shot clock by a tally of 13-12.

Although Plymouth continued their strong play into the second period, it would be the Bulls who jumped out to a lead once again as a terrific solo effort by Daniil Zharkov resulted in his 14th goal of the season. Zharkov picked off an airbourne puck through the neutral zone and came in down his off-wing, snapping a wrister under the blocker hand of Mahalak at 7:29 to give Belleville a 2-1 lead.

A few big saves by Subban later, the Bulls got their netminder an insurance policy as he searched for his 13th win of the season. Dylan Corson's hard work paid off as the Bulls got a timely bounce off relentless mucking in the offensive zone. After Mahalak extended his stick in an effort to knock a bouncing puck away from Corson, linemate Scott Simmonds sent the puck towards the net as it bounced off the post and right out to Corson who shoveled into an empty net before Mahalak could find the puck. Corson's second of the season is his first goal since October 5th and gave the Bulls a 3-1 lead.

The Bulls buckled down in the late going of the second period, even drawing the Whalers into their first penalty of the night as Tom Wilson went a little overboard on Bulls defenceman Jason Shaw at the centre ice boards, trying to stuff the Belleville native into his own bench but getting sent to the box for a high stick in the process. 

The Bulls began the third with a one minute and thirty second powerplay to work with and a 3-1 lead on the scoreboard despite being outchanced 13-8.

Unable to convert on their man advantage to start the period, the Bulls did string together some solid chances in the early going and controlled much of the play. Michael Curtis wasn't able to beat Mahalak on a pair of golden opportunities inside the opening five minutes of the period, but Adam Payerl capitalized at 6:35 for his 11th of the season. The 6'3" centreman overpowered the Plymouth goaltender with a hard snapshot that snuck in low on the glove side.

Three minutes later, Brady Austin scored his second goal of the season on a shot that somehow got through the body of Mahalak as the puck whistled through traffic. Shaw and Curtis pitched in with assists on the goal that gave Belleville a commanding 5-1 lead.

A pair of number ten's entertained the 2500 on hand at the Yardmen with a toe-to-toe scrap a few minutes later as Austen Brassard and Tom Wilson's emotions boiled over as the Belleville crowd gave Brassard their support.

The Belleville penalty kill effectively neutralized a Plymouth five-on-three to end the night as gutsy efforts by Luke Judson, Michael Curtis, Stephen Silas and Brady Austin fueled the Bulls to the finish line.

Corson was named first star on Saturday night with a big goal. The 17 year-old's game has come on of late as he's been one of the Bulls' most consistent performers. "I've just tried to focus on keeping my feet moving and being more patient when I get the puck. I found I would panic sometimes last year and make a play I'd later regret. This season I'm really seeing the play develop around me and it's a good feeling."

Corson continues to centre the Bulls' third line alongside Simmonds and Hooey. He has nothing but great things to say about the chemistry between the three. "I think we've really come to know each others tendencies out there. We already know what each other will do without even communicating. We've had great success when we chip pucks in and go in hard."

The Toronto native finished by crediting Malcolm Subban with another solid game between the pipes. "Malcolm has been the heart and soul of this team and that isn't going to change. He made some really timely saves for us tonight and was the difference maker out there."

The Bulls enter the Christmas break with a record of 20-13-0-0, good for 4th place in the Eastern Conference headed into Sunday. Saturday's win snaps a four game losing skid after the team enjoyed a pair of six game winning streaks in the first half.

The Bulls will be in action again on December 29th when they travel to Sault Ste. Marie to take on the Greyhounds followed by a trip to Sudbury on the 30th. They're back home for their annual New Year's Day matinee against the Brampton Battalion on January 1st. For ticket information, contact the Bulls Box Office at 613-966-8338.

Remember fans, the Bulls Shop is open throughout the week up until Friday, December 23rd. The store will be open from 10:00am - 7:00pm from Monday to Friday.