Thursday, April 16, 2009

OHL Round Up

Press Release

In Windsor, Ryan Ellis scored a powerplay goal 4:30 into overtime to lift the Spitfires to a 4-3 come-from-behind win over the London Knights in Game 1 of the Rogers OHL Western Conference Championship Series on Wednesday.

“It was a play that we drew up llis said about the game-winner. “It hit a stick I think and luckily went in. We got the bounces we needed.”

Nazem Kadri opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal in the second period and Justin Taylor and John Carlson also counted in the second to give the Knights a 3-1 lead after two.

Ellis and Andrei Loktionov scored powerplay goals less than a minute apart midway through the third period to ties the game. Scott Timmins also scored and Taylor Hall had two assists for the Spitfires, who were four-for-six with the man advantage.

“It was a crazy game for us,” said Spitfires’ coach Bob Boughner. “We needed our powerplay to bail us out. I thought those were our best features of the night. We won the first one but we’ll have to work hard for it.”

Andrew Engelage allowed three goals on 34 shots in the win while Trevor Cann took the loss after giving up four goals on 34 shots.

Game 2 is on Friday in London (7:30 p.m. on Rogers TV and the OHL Action Pak).

“We’ve been good at home and our record shows that,” Kadri said. “Hopefully we can play hard and get that win.”

Game Summary

Brampton Battalion 4, Belleville Bulls 2

In Belleville, Matt Kang scored two goals to help the Brampton Battalion double the Bulls 4-2 in the opening game of the Rogers Eastern Conference Championship Series.

P.K. Subban opened the scoring for the Bulls in the first period but Battalion captain Cody Hodgson replied two and a half minutes later to tie the game. Kang scored twice in the second period sandwiched around a Matt Duchene marker that proved to be the game-winner.

“We were really happy with our game tonight,” said Battalion coach and GM Stan Butler. “This is a tough rink and they have a great hockey team. I thought we checked well up the ice and played a solid defensive game. It’s only a start, but it’s a good start.”

Subban added his second of the game in the third period to cut the lead to two and the Bulls pulled goaltender Mike Murphy late in the game but couldn’t cut into the lead any further.

“Our big guys just have to step up and try to turn things around,” said Bulls’ captain Eric Tangradi. “

Thomas McCollum made 28 saves in the win while Murphy allowed four goals on 37 shots.

Game 2 in on Friday in Brampton.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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