Generals Dig Deep in Overtime

The Generals improved to 8-0 with a win over the Three Hills Thrashers last night.  It wasn’t without a dramatic finish, however. The Gens opened the scoring in the first when Mike Matlo took a Nick Borody pass out of the Generals zone, skated around the Thrashers d-men and buried five-hole for his 6^th of the season. This would be the only scoring in the first frame. The Generals were outshot 10-9 in the period.

The third period saw the Generals come out flat and allow the Thrashers to score 4 unanswered goals in a span of 9:30. The Generals were in a huge hole and needed something to spark their offence. That spark came with seven minutes remaining in the second period when a Thrashers defenceman elbowed Tyson Soloski in the head giving the Generals a 5-minute powerplay and a chance to get back in the game. Darren Schmautz got the comeback started when he shoveled home a rebound off a Danny Mcsween shot. Jonny Pictin picked up a second assist. Then Pictin lit the lamp three minutes later with Mcsween and Schmautz picking up the helpers. After the 5-minute major expired the score was only 4-3 Thrashers. The second period came to a close with score remaining just that. The shots were 13-13 in the period.

The Generals came out for the final period down one and looking to equalize early. Two penalties in the third almost ended the comeback but the Gens PK unit has been operating at an 86% efficiency rate this year and they did not disappoint by easily killing off both Thrasher powerplays. With the clock winding down on the Generals perfect season, Mike Matlo picked up a loosed puck along the boards in the Thrashers end, wheeled into the middled and fired a shot low glove side that beat the helpless Thrashers goalie. The game was now tied with only 1:19 remaining. The final buzzer rang and this contest would need overtime. Shots in the third were 10-4 Thrashers, but the score keepers were obviously snoozing because the Generals outplayed the Thrashers in the third.

The overtime was all Gens and only three minutes in Danny Mcsween picked up the puck at center and skated towards the Thrashers end on what looked like a harmless 1 on 2. This is Danny “The Dream” Mcsween on a 2 on 1 though. He dangled both d-men, went in on a break away and sniped top shelf for the game winner. The final shots were Thrasher 34, Generals 27. The Gens went 3/3 on the PK and 2/3 on the PP. Player of the game was Mike Matlo who score his 6^th and 7^th of the season, including the game tying goal. up in the third. In OT Danny McSween once again pots the game winner, his 8th of the season.