Oshawa Generals stay in playoff hunt with huge win over Sudbury on Mom’s Day

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Published February 13, 2023 at 10:08 am

Cameron Butler enjoyed his first career hattrick Sunday in a big 8-5 win for his Oshawa Generals against Sudbury. Photo Terry Wilson OHL Images

With the mom’s in attendance on Mom’s Day, the Oshawa Generals saved their best effort of the weekend for last in winning a crucial home match 8-5 against the Sudbury Wolves Sunday afternoon to pull within one point of the Wolves for the final playoff spot in the east.

Oshawa started the weekend in the same position but a 3-2 shootout loss to Kingston coupled with a 3-2 Sudbury victory over Sarnia Friday dropped the Generals three back. Sudbury then lost to Mississauga Saturday to set up the Sunday pre-Super Bowl matinee showdown with a lot on the line for both clubs.

The day did not start well for the Generals when Sudbury’s Dylan Robinson fooled Oshawa goalie Jacob Oster with a floater from behind centre late in the first but the home side roared back in the second with three straight goals. Tyler Graham started it with his first OHL goal and Cameron Butler – who would enjoy a four-point night and his first career hattrick – and Dylan Roobroek all scored to chase Sudbury starter Nate Krawcuk from the crease.

Sudbury, with Daniel Goyette’s 31st of the year, climbed to within one early in the third but the Generals would score three straight goals once again – Ty Petrou, Butler again and Ryan Gagnier with his team-leading 25th – give Oshawa a 6-2 lead.

There was still a flurry of goals to go before this one ended but a pair of empty netters by rookie defenceman Ben Danford and Butler (for the hattrick) sealed the 8-5 win and a massive two points for Oshawa, whom have 19 games to play – one more than Sudbury.

Stuart Rolofs and Gagnier scored for Oshawa in Kingston Friday night, with the Frontenacs winning when team captain and Pickering son Paul Ludwinski scored the only goal of the shootout.

Oshawa is next in action Wednesday when they host Hamilton in a rare mid-week game at the Tribute Centre. The players will wear specially designed jerseys presented by the Real Canadian Superstore design contest with the jerseys auctioned of in support of the Children’s Aids Foundation.

The Oshawa Generals’ moms show off the special jackets worn for Mom’s Day at the Tribute Communities Centre Sunday afternoon

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