Game Recap vs Belleville (28-Jan)

67s win 6-2 over the Bulls. See OHL game summary here. And the Bulls have a game summary posted here.

IN THE NEWS
PRE-GAME NEWS
Some pre-game news from the Ottawa Sun (1.28.2005). Don Brennan writes 67's eye split with Bulls.

POST-GAME NEWS
And post-game news from SLAM! Sports, 67's run Bulls. From the Belleville Intelligencer, Bulls dumped. From the Ottawa Citizen, Chris Yzerman writes 67's offence catches fire. Some quotes:

"We know that's the type of hockey we're capable of playing," 67's captain Will Colbert said. "We need to work on that every night.

[. . .]

"Killer has been talking to us all week and trying to get the guys motivated and get them into the game because we haven't been showing up early," Talbot said.

"The team hasn't been playing with that much emotion. (Last night), everybody came out hard and we finally got the win that we needed."

From the Ottawa Sun, Don Brennan writes Physical 67's step up and take Bulls by the horns.

"We've been struggling lately, and (coach Brian Kilrea) reiterated to us, 'If you don't want to play, stay in the room' ... there's just been no emotion," said defenceman Elgin Reid, who contributed a solid game and a fight in a breakout second period.

"(Last night), everybody stepped up and played physical. There's definitely some bad blood with (the Bulls). They're probably one of our biggest rivals. They don't like to be hit, and we took it to them. Even the fights ... they are not a big part of the game, but they give the guys and the fans a boost. And Killer likes to see emotion."

PRE-GAME NOTES
The game was broadcast on TEAM 1200/Dave Schreiber and AJ Jakubec.

Pre-game interview with Killer: On the loss in Belleville: We gave the puck away a lot. Some of our reliable defencemen were not playing the puck well. We were forcing the goaltenders to make tremendous saves. We need to play better in our own end if we’re going to win games. On Spezza’s game in Belleville (stopping all 28 SOG he faced): It did a lot of good for his confidence and for the confidence of the team. It was a great game by Spezza. He gave us a chance to win. He played well, but we need some guys to start playing better. We talked about it on the bus home. The best players we decided were Talbot and Bickell. But the next two forwards, and it was a consensus, were McGinn and Alphonso, and they’re both 16. On Spezza getting the start in Kitchener: Spezza is going to get the start on Saturday. I haven’t made a decision for Sunday yet. On Akeson’s injury (is it more than just a day-to-day thing): Next w/e he’ll be fine, but right now he needs to rest it or it could damage it long-term. We’re playing it safe.

LINE UP
Forwards: Bickell, Petruzalek, Kaspar; Lawrance, Bonello, Mancari; VanderVeeken, Talbot, Hulit (started); Alphonso, McGinn.
Defensive pairings: Colbert, Staubitz; Van Herpt, Reid; Joslin, Jarram, Beard
Staring in goal: Guadagnolo. Spezza on the bench.
Out: Ouellette (inj-mono), Battochio (inj-shoulder), Lahey (inj-concussion), and Akeson (inj-Achilles; won’t be ready until next w/e).

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS
Note that this was the first night that we didn’t go to watch the game live, and we were still in Ottawa. We’re leaving real early tomorrow for A ROAD TRIP!, so we decided to for-go. The following notes were based on the radio play-by-play/colour.

First period. It sounds like the 67s are playing physical – forechecking and finishing checks, with lots of jump. Mancari had 2 short-handed chances on the PP. A wonky goal goes into the 67s net off of Staubitz. Bickell scored a PP goal! “A much different team,” says Schreibs. “Effort and intensity there,” says AJ.

Second Period. Hulit scores his second of the night. The 67s are getting odd-man rushes: 2-on-1, and 2-on-0. This is very encouraging! Joslin fights with Johnson (BEL): “No real damaging blows,” says Schreibs. Both were “enthusiastic.” Talbot, off of Hulit scores! Good for Talbot! “A commanding performance here at home,” says AJ. Another fight: Reid vs Welesky (BEL). “This one is all Elgin Reid, folks!” yells Schreibs. “This one’s turning a little bit ugly,” says Schreibs as Bobby Davey (BEL) wants to take on Jarram later in the period. The linesman pulls Davey away before anything starts.

Third Period. Mancari, with help from his linemates Lawrance and Bonello, makes it a 5-1 game! Then, Bonello scores right away! “ . . . top shelf, where mama keeps the homemade jam,” shrieks Schreibs. Johnson (BEL) scores after the 67s got caught up in their own end. And they finish the game, with a 6-2 win. “An all around good effort tonight; good to see them bounce back,” says AJ.

So the 67s beat the Bulls 6-2. Good for them. Scoring from multiple guys on multiple lines. They really needed this. Now let’s hope that they can get at least one win on the road.

SCORING
OTTAWA
1, Hulit, (22) (Talbot, VanderVeeken), 09:00
1, Bickell, (16) (Joslin, Bonello), 19:06 (PP)
2, Hulit, (23) (Kaspar, Talbot), 07:24 (PP)
2, Talbot, (20) (Hulit, Reid), 12:27
3, Mancari, (22) (Bonello, Lawrance), 04:57
3, Bonello, (16) (McGinn, Alphonso), 05:35

BELLEVILLE
1, Rancourt, (21) , 14:21 (PP)
3, Johnson, (3) (Spade, Cameron), 08:47

THREE STARS
OHL three stars were: (1) Hulit, (2) Talbot, and (3) Reid.

TEAM 1200 three stars were: (1) Hulit (he kind of struggled for a while trying to score goals, but he came back big tonight; an all around great effort for Chris Hulit, with 2 G and 1 A); (2) Talbot (he brings it every night; a huge night offensively; you never have a night where he has a night off; even in Belleville he was the best of a very bad lot); and (3) Mancari (he and Bonello really answered the bell after taking some heat from Kilrea and the media this week; both set the tone tonight with good physical play). Honourable mentions to Bonello and Reid.

REFFING
Beer.

ATTENDANCE
Now this was a sell-out. 9862.

NEXT UP
Tomorrow night in Kitchener (we’ll be there!), then Sunday afternoon in Brampton.