Memorial Cup Notebook: Generals clinch spot in final

With a spot in the championship game on the line, the Oshawa Generals booked their ticket in the championship game on Tuesday night at the 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

Facing the Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets, the Generals held on for a 2-1 victory over the Rockets to earn some added rest heading into the final.

The teams skated to a scoreless opening period before the Generals opened the scoring just over four minutes into the second period on a goal By Cole Cassels.

The two teams would then trade goals as Tobias Lindberg would give the Generals a 2-0 lead only to see the Rockets get one back on a goal by Gage Quinney late in the frame.

The final period would stay scoreless, but not due to lack of opportunities, specifically for the Rockets, who had a minute-long 5-on-3 late in the period with a prime opportunity to tie the contest.

“If it’s not for (Appleby) we’re probably still playing,” Generals Coach D.J. Smith said of Appleby on the 5-on-3.

“Your penalty kill is always great when your goalie’s great,” Smith also said. “It speaks volumes to how Ken Appleby anchors that whole situation.”

“Just make a save,” said Appleby when asked about Kelowna’s two-man advantage. “Luckily we got some blocks and I was able to make a couple of saves and we were able to get the puck down the ice.”

Rockets Coach Dan Lambert said nerves were an issue during the two-man advantage.

“We looked nervous a little bit and were squeezing out sticks a little too tight,” Kelowna Coach Dan Lambert said of the 5-on-3. “But that’s what happens when you really want to win. You really want to make things happen.”

Appleby made 20 saves for the Generals and expected better of himself after two tough outings to start the tournament.

“I was a lot better tonight,” said Appleby. “After (the first two games), I felt like I could be a lot better for the guys. I needed to be a lot better if we wanted to win this thing and I thought I was better tonight.”

Exactly when Kelowna plays next will be made official after Wednesday’s round robin finale.

The round robin wraps up on Wednesday night as the two Quebec League teams meet. The Quebec Remaprts will face the Rimouski Oceanic. A Remoarts win would avenge a seventh game loss to the Oceanic in the QMJHL final and also eliminate the Quebec champions from the tournament.

A lopsided win by the Oceanic would force the Rockets into a tiebreaker game on Thursday night. Just a win would mean the Oceanic and Remparts would meet again in the tie-breaker. A Remparts win would eliminate the Oceanic.

(Photo: Oshawa Generals goaltender Ken Appleby makes a save on Kelowna Rockets forward Tomas Soustal during the Generals 2-1 win at the 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup. Aaron Bell/CHLImages)

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OTHER GAMES

May 22: Quebec vs. Kelowna
May 23: Oshawa vs. Rimouski
May 24: Oshawa vs. Quebec
May 25: Kelowna vs. Rimouski