LAST GAME RECAP

The Oshawa Generals will need to have finally clinched the 8th and final playoff spot with a 3-2 win over the Mississauga Steelheads.

Early in the game, the momentum was all on the side of the visiting Generals. After killing off an early high sticking penalty, Oshawa was given a power play chance of their own, where Cameron Butler scored his 26th of the season to put his team up 1-0.

With eight minutes remaining in the first period, the Generals’ strong penalty kill was on display once again, giving the Steelheads few high-danger opportunities before killing it off for the second time already. The Generals end the first period up 1-0 and even in shots 11 a side.

The second period started with an early shorthanded penalty shot chance for the Steelheads after Mississauga was tripped on a breakaway. Despite a forehand-backhand move, Jacob Oster stood tall and shut the door to stay ahead 1-0.

Midway through the frame, a broken play lead to a big toe save off a redirection by Oster, but an errant rebound landed on the stick of Angus McDonnell and into the Generals’ net. McDonnell’s 29th tied the game at 1-1.

The third period is when the Generals came to life, and sealed their own fate - this time, for a positive change. Cameron Butler scored his second of the game, almost identical to his play early in the game, to put Oshawa up 2-1. Just 19 seconds later, Ryan Gagnier jammed a loose puck through the Mississauga crease and over the line for a 3-1 lead.

The Steelheads would score on more with 1:36 on the clock, but it’s as close as they’d get. Jacob Oster stopped 33/35 for the bounce-back win. The two points meant Oshawa needed a Frontenacs loss in regulation to Barrie to clinch a playoff spot.

Down the 401 towards Kingston, the Frontenacs jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over the Barrie Colts. Barrie, who sat a plethora of their regulars, chipped away at the Kingston lead with a goal late in the second period. In the third period, Kingston failed to score on a five-minute power play, giving Barrie all of the momenta. Four more unanswered goals by the Colts stole the victory from the clutches of the home Kingston team.

With Kingston’s loss, the Generals avoid a winner-takes-all game on Sunday night and clinched the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, setting up a Round 1 meeting with the Ottawa 67’s.