LAST GAME RECAP

The message going into Sunday afternoon in Gatineau was to have a short memory and forget everything that happened on Thursday night.

The 7-0 loss to the 67’s in Game 1 had almost nothing positive to take into Game 2, and it looked like the Generals left it all behind them. Game 2 on Sunday afternoon was a much better display from the 8th-seeded Generals, despite still dropping. 3-2 decision.

The opening period saw the Generals get their first shot of the game off the opening faceoff, something that took them more than 22 minutes to achieve on Thursday. Oshawa found ways to maintain offensive pressure in the Ottawa zone, and even forced starter Collin MacKenzie to make big saves early. Ottawa had to expect the Generals to come out a lot stronger, and it caused both teams to play with a little bit more intention.

After 20 minutes, the visiting Generals had to be happy with their effort, keeping the score knotted at zeros heading into the dressing room. The 67’s once again outshot the Generals but only to a mere 8-6 advantage.

In the middle frame, the 67’s began to take more control of the play, thanks to more power play chances given to them after some undisciplined play from Oshawa. Ottawa would then score on their first two shots of the second period. First, with Logan Morrison’s first of the postseason. The goal extended his playoff point streak to 21 games. Two minutes later, Will Gerrior took a pretty pass from Luca Pinelli before making a nifty move himself to get around Jacob Oster for his first of the postseason.

Seven minutes after the 67’s took their 2-0 lead, the Generals finally found life AND a way past Collin MacKenzie. A bouncing puck from a point shot hit some bodies in front of the net before landing on the stick of Beckett Sennecke. With a wide-open net, the rookie buried his first ever playoff goal to cut the Ottawa lead in half. The Generals turned on the jets in the second period, with two breakaways, a post, and multiple pucks just INCHES from crossing the line.

After two periods, the Generals trailed 2-1 on the scoreboard but were outshooting the 67’s 21-16, already surpassing their total shots from Thursday night.

The third and final frame was the tightest period of the series so far, with both sides finding ways to create offense - even creating a sense of back-and-forth action for the first time as well. Quelling the momentum the Gens had created, the 67’s regained their 2-0 lead thanks to Logan Morrison’s second of the game. The Generals did finish the game 5/5 on the penalty kill, but many of their penalties halted any chances they were creating, and often gave the 67’s all the energy back before scoring themselves.

What looked to be the end of the game after the 3-1 goal, Calum Ritchie knocked home a rebound from right infront of MacKenzie to bring the Generals within one, while on the power play.

Oshawa made one final push in the dying seconds of the game, but due to a late penalty they were unable to effectively pull Oster for the extra skater, and couldn’t find the tying goal. Despite the loss, Oshawa proved they weren’t going to be run over in the series like they were in Game 1, upping their physical play for the entire 60 minutes.

Jacob Oster was huge in net for the Generals, making huge save after huge save against the league’s best skaters on the 67’s side, finishing the game with 30 saves on 33 shots.

Down 2-0 in the series, action will now turn to the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa where the Generals will hope the home crowd can help pull them even in the series. Game 3 takes place at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday night.