Frontenacs get by the Generals in another close game

Nolan Snyder with two points as Kingston now one point back of Niagara for sixth place in the East.

It was a little too close for comfort for the Kingston Frontenacs.

The visiting Oshawa Generals made the Frontenacs work on Sunday at Slush Puppie Place.

Kingston did get off to a good start with Robin Kuzma opening the scoring with his 14th of the season 2:23 into the game for a 1-0 lead.

The Frontenacs (29-28-3-2) also had three power play opportunities in that first period, including a 5-on-3 for 36 seconds but were not able to add on to the lead.

It wasn't until Maleek McGowan found the back of the net at the 13:29 mark of the second to put the Frontenacs up 2-0.

McGowan came in from his defensive position and backhanded in his 13th of the season and head coach Troy Mann says he has been a valuable especially when he has the puck.

Matthew Frost would give the Frontenacs a 3-0 lead with his 10th of the season on the power play. Forward Nolan Snyder collected his second assist on Frost's goal and now has 9 points in last six games.

Snyder believes the team is coming together at just the right time.

The third period was where things got a little dicey. Luke Posthumus came off the bench and managed to sneak his way to the side of the goal where he redirected a pass from Brady Murnane to get the Generals (17-42-2-1) on the board.

Then Brooks Rowgowski on the power play shot from behind the goal line off of the back leg of Gavin Betts and in to cut the Frontenacs lead to 3-2.

Oshawa will miss the playoffs and Mann says they played like a team that had nothing to lose in the final frame.

Snyder says his team was fortunate to hang on and get the win, and inch closer to the Niagara Ice Dogs.

Betts stopped 20 shots in the win while Jaden Cholette made 22 saves for the Generals. The Frontenacs are a perfect 8-0 in the season series after the 3-2 victory.

That combined with Niagara losing in regulation to Brantford on Sunday puts the Frontenacs one point back of the Ice Dogs for sixth in the OHL's Easten Conference. The two teams will go head to head on Thursday night in St. Catherine's.

You can listen to the game with Jim Gilchrist on the call on Kingston's New Country 98.9 with the broadcast starting around 6:55.

Story by Ken Hashizume