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Chris Bilder, Public Relations, Eugene Generals
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2010
Generals Shut Out Tomahawks, Split with Totems
Eugene, OR – The Eugene Generals (28-6) recorded their fourth shutout of the season on Thursday in a 4-0 win over the Puget Sound Tomahawks (11-25), and they split their final two games of the season in Mountlake Terrace, WA against the Seattle Totems (27-8) on Friday and Saturday. The Generals fell to the Totems 5-4 on Friday, but were able to come back with a 5-2 victory on Saturday. The wins this weekend, coupled with a few key losses by other teams, let the Generals clinch their fifth consecutive playoff appearance.
“We’re beginning to put more and more of a game together,” Generals head coach Jay Miller stated. “I’m really happy that we were able to come out of the weekend with four points, but it feels even better to see our team start playing better hockey. We want to be hitting our peak come playoff time, and if we keep on improving like we have been we should be right on track to do just that.”
On Thursday against the Tomahawks, the Generals pulled out to a 1-0 lead 18:01 into the first period when Eric Watters and Ray Frianeza assisted Brad Main. The Generals would not score in the second period, but they would finish the contest strong. Just 2:11 into the third Ian Evans would be assisted by Trevor Ruiz to put the Generals up 2-0. Eric Watters would tally an unassisted goal 14:31 into the frame to make it 3-0, and Arram Chinarian would score an unassisted, shorthanded empty net goal with just under 1:20 left in the game to make it 4-0 Generals. Dylan Woodring made 23 saves in the game en route to his third shutout of the season.
The Generals would have a little tougher time on Friday against the Totems. The Totems jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period, but Eric Watters would assist Ray Frianeza with a little under a minute left in the first to make it a 2-1 contest heading into the second. The Totems wouldn’t shy away in the second as they scored the only two goals in the period to make it 4-1 heading into the third.
The Generals would come storming back in the third, however. Just 56 seconds into the frame Peter Mingus assisted Kyle Kennedy to cut the Totems lead to two. Neil Holder would put an unassisted shorthanded puck behind the Totems goaltender with under ten minutes left to play to make it a 4-3 game. The Totems would answer back with five minutes remaining, but the Generals would make it a one goal game with 22 seconds remaining when Arram Chinarian assisted Holder for his second goal of the period. The Generals would not be able to pull off the come from behind victory, but their comeback attempt must have sparked something within the team.
The Generals would get on the board immediately on Saturday night against the Totems. Just 30 seconds into the game Ryan McDonald and Sean Park assisted Peter Mingus to give the Generals a 1-0 lead. The next goal wouldn’t occur for over a period, but 56 seconds into the second McDonald earned his second assist of the night when he set up Brad Main on the power play. The Generals would take a three goal lead 3:39 into the period when Main assisted Neil Holder for the Generals second of four power play goals on the night.
The Totems would get two consecutive goals just a little under two minutes apart to make it a one goal game, but 19:05 into the frame Holder and Eric Watters assisted Main for his second power play goal of the evening. Watters and Main would assist McDonald on the power play with a little under a minute remaining in the third period to put the game away for the Generals.
The Generals are now 8-0 against the Tomahawks this season, and they have taken a 4-3 lead in the nine game season series against the Totems. The Generals have also moved into sole possession of first place in the NORPAC Pacific Division.
The Generals will have their third of five consecutive three game weekends this weekend in Eugene. The Generals will host the third place Tri-City Titans on Friday and Saturday at 7:35 PM at Lane Events Center-Ice. The Generals will then host the River City Jaguars on Sunday at 7:35 PM. The games will be broadcast on EGHN. For more information on upcoming games or EGHN please visit eugenegenerals.com.