Frontenacs make it rain against Generals to snap losing streak

Several players got out scoring droughts in their first win since mid-November.

It was their first win in three weeks but the Kingston Frontenacs believe there are parts of their game that they still need to work on.

The fact that it was against the last-place Oshawa Generals didn't dampen the jubilation of a 7-3 Kingston victory Wednesday night. An announced attendance of 2,118 at Slush Puppie Place were there to see the Frontenacs snap a season-high nine-game losing streak.

Tied 1-1 in the first, the Fronts scored three straight to take a 4-1 lead after two periods of play.

Robin Kuzma scored the first of his two on the night at the 11:16 mark of the second period and finished with three points.

He says while it was great to finally capitalize on their scoring chances, they were giving the Generals too many opportunities.

Jacob Battaglia, who had a four-point night, scored his first goal in seven games early in the third period and says it was nice to have everyone contributing.

Two other players also broke out of scoring droughts: Andrew Kuzma got his first goal in four games, Landon Wright (3 points) went 16 games between goals. 

Head coach Troy Mann says it's those players, especially their captain, that stepped up for the team.

Mann also felt his team let their guard down a bit coming out of the 2nd intermission. Oshawa scored on the power play on a goal by Luke Posthumus just five seconds in to the third period to cut the deficit to 4-2.

The Frontenacs answered on the Battaglia goal just one-minute later to restore the three-goal lead and never looked back.

During the losing streak, the Frontenacs scored a combined 17 goals but were always one goal away from swinging the momentum.

Mann says they played better in the two previous losses against Flint and Barrie.

Maleek McGowan and Andre Mondoux also scored for the Frontenacs. Tyler Hopkins was out of the line up again with an injury and Mann says he doesn't expect him back until Sunday in Oshawa at the earliest.

Matthew Minchak stopped 25 shots in the win for the Frontenacs. Jaden Cholette made 20 saves in the loss for the Generals.

Kingston went scoreless on their only power play opportunity on the night extending that goal-less streak to 15. Oshawa scored on their lone chance with the man advantage.

The Frontenacs will take on the Western Conference-leading Windsor Spitfires Friday night at Slush Puppie Place.

If you can't make it to the game, be sure to tune in to New Country 98.9 for Upper Canada Fuel and Burner Frontenacs Hockey. Jim Gilchrist will have the call just after 7 pm.

Story by Ken Hashizume