The Save-On-Foods Oceanside Generals earned their second win of the season in a hard fought, 6-5 double overtime win over the Peninsula Panthers.
It was a back and forth game from the puck drop with each team gaining a two goal lead at one point.
In a bizarre move, the Panthers pulled their goalie for the four on three advantage in double OT, leading to Gens’ defenseman Josh Harvey finding the empty net from centre ice.
Forwards Mathieu Jallabert and Jonathan Veilleux each had four-point nights, Jallabert with one goal and three assists, while Veilleux had two goals and two assists. Harvey had two goals and Jeff Deblois rounded out the scoring for the Gens.
“Strange way to end the game,” assistant coach Jerry Bickerton said following the win. “It was great to see the guys stick with it. After being down 3-1, we came back to tie it and kept that momentum to go up 5-3 in the third.”
“We managed to play our way out of having the lead but they kept their heads and worked hard and it eventually paid off.”
The win moves the Generals record to two wins, five losses and a tie, for five points on the season. Bickerton, who was filling in for head coach Brad Knight who was on a scouting assignment, was pleased with the effort that the team put forward on Saturday night.
“I thought it was a step in the right direction,” Bickerton said. “They battled hard and went through adversity at various points in the game. We took a few bad penalties but were able to battle through it and they deserved to win this one. They worked hard and showed that they were the better team throughout the game.”
“We’ve struggled in the second period so far this year but they had a strong showing in this one, I thought that was the best second period of hockey we’ve played and I hope that we can build on it on our way to putting together a full game of hockey.”
Gens goaltender Braddock Otton earned his second win between the pipes, stopping 27 of 32 shots. Otton’s play as of late has not only given him a boost of confidence but has him feeling like he’s showing he has what it takes to be the Generals starting goaltender every night.
“I’ve been feeling good lately,” Otton said. “It’s always good to be able to come up with a timely save for your teammates and thankfully I was able to do that in this one.”
“It goes hand in hand, I think that knowing they’re getting some saves on the back end allows the team to focus a little more on the offensive side of things,” Otton said.
“We’ve been playing well and it’s just a matter of time before it all comes together for us.”
The Generals are back in action this Friday and Saturday, as they take on the Comox Valley Glacier Kings in Comox on Friday and back at Oceanside Place, 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
