The Belleville Bulls suffered their second consecutive loss, falling 5-3 to the Erie Otters Thursday night in Erie. The game marked the fifth straight season in which the Bulls had played in Erie for the Otters annual Thanksgiving game.

The two sides played a tight checking opening portion of the first period that featured few chances for either team. The Bulls were able to open the scoring with just under six minutes remaining in the opening period when Michael Curtis backhanded a rebound from a Brett Mackie shot past Otters goaltender Jaroslav Janus for his third goal of the season. Erie was able to respond with two goals in a span of just twenty seconds during the final minute of the first period. Anthony Luciani tied the score when he fired a rebound from a Paul Cianfrini point shot past Bulls goaltender Philipp Grubauer. Erie then took the lead with just 19 seconds remaining in the period while on the power play when Derek Holden one-timed a Greg McKegg cross-ice pass past Grubauer. Shots on goal in the first period favoured the Otters 13-9.

It was Erie who dominated throughout the second period, as they pressed to increase their lead. The Otters were able to grab a 3-1 advantage six and a half minutes into the second period when Luciani fired a quick shot past Grubauer on an odd man rush for his second goal of the game. Erie then took a 4-1 lead with just over six minutes remaining in the middle frame when Mike Cazzola was able to skate into the slot and fire a hard shot past Grubauer after a Bulls turnover. Following the goal, Tyson Teichmann replaced Grubauer in the Belleville net. The Otters pressed for the remainder of the period for a fifth goal and enjoyed a four minute power play advantage but Teichmann was excellent in net to keep the score 4-1 heading into the final twenty minutes of play. Shots on goal in the second period were 26-6 Erie.

The Otters extended their lead to 5-1 just 33 seconds into the third period when Zack Torquato made a nice deke before sliding the puck past Teichmann from the crease. The Bulls did press to cut into the Erie lead during the third period, as they enjoyed four consecutive power play opportunities but were unable to convert. Adam Payerl snapped a shot between the pads of Janus eight minutes into the third period to pull Belleville to within three goals. Andy Bathgate and Kyle DeCoste assisted on Payerl’s seventh goal of the season. Janus was replaced in the Erie net midway through the third period by Ramis Sadikov. The Bulls rounded out the scoring just before time expired in the third period when Alex Aleardi jammed a loose puck past Sadikov from the crease for his first goal as a Bull. Branden Eden assisted on Aleardi’s second goal of the season. Shots on goal in the third period were 15-7 Belleville but overall favoured the Otters 46-30.

Grubauer and Teichmann split the goaltending duties for the Bulls, making 25 and 16 saves respectively in the loss while Janus and Sadikov combined to stop 27 shots for Erie. Belleville failed to score in four power play chances while the Otters converted once in five opportunities with the man advantage. The three stars of the game were Cazzola, Luciani, and Holden. With the loss, the Bulls record falls to 9-15-1-3 while Erie improves to 10-11-4-1. Belleville will now continue their road trip on Friday night when they face the Niagara IceDogs before rounding out the trip on Saturday in Owen Sound. The Bulls next home game is Wednesday, December 2nd when they will host the Ottawa 67’s. Game time is 7:05pm at the Yardmen Arena and tickets for the game are available online and at the Bulls Box Office.