The Save-On-Foods Oceanside Generals snapped a 10 game winless streak, beating the Kerry Park Islanders 8-6 Sunday.
Mathieu Jallabert had two goals, including the game winner, as the Gens put up five in the third period to pull away with the victory. David Biagioni, Logan Savard, Travis Flug, Chase Gaudreault and newcomer Teddy Bailey all had two points in the game as well.
“It was a good game for us, we played hard all 60 minutes,” head coach Rob Gaudreault said. “We’ve been executing our systems really well and we’re playing very good five on five. I’m pretty happy with the progress, the guys are all in good spirits.”
In a rather scrappy game, the Gens converted on two of their four power plays, with goals nine seconds apart. The intensity boiled over in the second as Kade Pilton, back with the team, dropped the gloves with the Islander’s David Bittner, which Pilton won decisively. But it’s more than his size and physical ability that the coach is looking for.
“Kade has a calm presence on the ice when it comes to controlling the puck,” Gaudreault said. “He sees the game real well and with his experience, hopefully our boys will pick up a thing or two watching him do his thing on the ice.”
The win on Sunday comes after a tough loss to the Campbell River Storm last Friday night. With the Gens finding themselves down thanks to penalties, the Storm would take advantage of being a man up and had four power play goals on the night, handing the Gens a 6-3 loss.
“We’re playing well when it’s five on five,” forward Travis Flug said. “We ran in to some penalty trouble against Campbell River and they made us pay for it. When we were out of the box, we out scored them 3-2. We were in that game so it’s those penalties that really kill us.”
David Anderson, in net for both games, faced a lot of shots from Campbell River (51) as opposed to 26 from the Islanders.
“Two different games, faced a lot of rubber on Friday and not as much Sunday,” Anderson said. “It was nice to have a different sort of game on Sunday, where it was more the team putting up more goals than the other guys. It’s always better to be on that side of the game and I think we’ve got the ability to do that more going forward.”
Anderson, Gaudreault, Savard, Jallabert and captain Gibson Doney have been named to the VIJHL All Star game in Comox Jan. 18.
“It’s cool to have that honour,” Jallabert said. “It’s exciting to be going with my teammates and to have a chance to play with some of the other guys from the North division.”