Petes mount comeback, but lose in overtime
Petes score two late goals on Generals in third to salvage a point in first OT loss of season
The Peterborough Petes rallied to gain a point but couldn’t finish the job in overtime on Thursday night.
The Petes rallied from a 5-3 deficit only to see Serron Noel’s overtime goal lift the Oshawa Generals to a 6-5 win before 3,003 fans at the Memorial Centre.
Allan McShane, who had two goals and two assists, banked a pass off the boards that sprung Noel on a breakaway deking Hunter Jones for the winner.
It moved the Generals (24-152-0), who sit third in the OHL’s Eastern Conference, four points ahead of the Petes (21-16-1-1) who suffered their first overtime loss of the season.
Both teams were debuting new players acquired prior to Thursday’s noon OHL trade deadline.
Michael Little was in the Petes lineup after coming over from the Mississauga Steelheads. Brandon Saigeon and Nicolas Mattinen were in Oshawa’s lineup from the Hamilton Bulldogs.
It was also the first time the Petes played against Brett Neumann since his acquisition from the Kingston Frontenacs.
The Petes were also missing captain Zach Gallant whose ankle is bothering him and Liam Kirk who will miss five games to attend the World Junior Division IIA Championships for Great Britain in Estonia.
Oshawa twice grabbed first period leads only to have the Petes rebound to tie it
Anthony Salinitri converted McShane’s two-on-one pass by Jones 51 seconds into the game. It was the 29th of the year for Salinitri who was acquired earlier this season from the Sarnia
Sting.
Nick Robertson tied it on a short-handed breakaway at 10:35. He stole the puck from Generals blueliner Nico Grosse and deked goalie Kyle Keyser with his patented backhand to forehand move.
McShane made it 2-1 on Mattinen’s rebound off a point shot slipping it through Jones’ pads at 11 minutes.
Max Grondin tied it with 26 seconds left in the period powering his way to the net to deke Keyser to the backhand.
The trend reversed to start the second period when Nick Merkley put the Petes ahead on a power play 7:51 into the period and Oshawa replied 42 seconds later. Merkley one-timed Declan Chisholm’s pass along the blueline off a faceoff win in the Generals’ zone. Nando Eggenberger found Saigeon in behind the Petes’ defence where he roofed a shot.
Oshawa regained the lead in the final minute of the second period. Semyon Der-Arguchintsev collided with Robertson and the puck popped free to Grosse who sent McShane on a breakaway where he made a move and snapped the puck home.
Generals defenceman William Ennis caught Jones napping 20 seconds into the third. He kept a rimmed puck in at the Petes’ blue-line and scored on a long floating shot.
Erik Cermak drew the Petes within a goal with 7:25 left. He dropped the puck to Chris Paquette inside the Oshawa blueline then went to the net to convert his rebound.
The Petes tied it with 1:14 left shortly after killing a late penalty. Grosse coughed up the puck and Cole Fraser sent Adam Timleck down the ice where he hit the goalpost and then reached behind Keyser to shovel the puck over the goal-line.
NOTES: The three stars were 1. Allan McShane (O); 2. Cole Fraser (P); 3. Nicolas Mattinen (O).… The hardest working Pete was Nick Robertson….
PETES PIECES
The Petes are guaranteeing a minimum record $5,000 prize for Saturday’s 50-50 draw when they host the North Bay Battalion at 7:05 p.m.
The club is trying to generate more money for the draw which funds the club’s education fund.
The Petes have also launched a new Second Chance Raffle for all 50-50 draws at Petes games. Anyone who purchases a 50-50 ticket can enter the draw by visiting gopetesgo.com/2ndchance. The grand prize winner will receive a $500 Home Depot gift card as well as complimentary use of the Petes Suite at the PMC for a home game in the 2019-20 season.
The Petes are also accepting applications for a new part-time job as Petes Education Fund administrator. The job involves growing fundraising initiatives and awareness including the 50-50 and jersey raffle draws at Petes home games. The successful candidate will be a creative, energetic and positive person who has a passion for working behind-the-scenes to increase access to education and sport, according to a Petes news release.
The role pays a competitive hourly wage plus other benefits for 20 to 25 hours per week (including all Petes home games and other special events). Applications can be sent to info@gopetesgo.com. The Petes are requesting no mail or in-person applications.
Top prospects rivals
Petes goalie Hunter Jones and forward Nick Robertson will be on opposite teams for the 2019 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on Jan. 23 in Red Deer, Alta.
Jones will suit up for Team Orr while Robertson will play for Team Cherry.
Roster notes
Zach Gallant missed Thursday’s game after aggravating the high ankle sprain that kept him out for three months during Sunday’s game in Mississauga. Petes head coach Rob Wilson said Gallant’s ankle swelled so they’re being cautious. He’s considered day-today.
With Liam Kirk at the World Junior Division IIA Championships in Estonia, and having traded Cameron Supryka earlier in the day, the Petes were left one skater short. Michael Little wore No. 17 in his Petes debut Thursday after being acquired earlier in the day from the Mississauga Steelheads.
NOTE: See game coverage on Page C1.