Generals Fall Short In Smolinski's Debut

November 6, 2009 marked the debut of NHL veteran Bryan Smolinski, as the Generals' faithful welcomed him with open arms and eager eyes Friday night at Perani Arena.

The fans at Perani Arena vocalized their appreciation for Bryan as he took the ice for his first shift, dawning number 23 on his sweater. Smolinski was recently signed by the Generals, in hopes of returning the franchise to their winning ways.

Smolinkski was a star for Ron Mason's Spartans in the late 1980's/early 1990's, a veteran of 8 different NHL rosters for two decades, and now finds himself suiting up for the Flint Generals of the IHL.

Bryan's first game as a "G-man" came against the two time defending Turner Cup Champions, the Fort Wayne Komets.

It was another night on the grind for Bryan and the Generals, as they looked to deal the Komets a loss in front of their home crowd.

It's no secret that these two teams don't have a lot of love for each other, evident by the eagerness to plow one another into the boards early and often. The Generals are a chippy, physical bunch, and they're not afraid to protect their home ice at all costs.

The Komets got on the board first, on the strength of an odd man rush (2 on 1), beating Flint's goaltender J.F. Labbe on the gloveside. Konstantin Shafranov netted the first goal of the game, with a little help from his friends Colin Chaulk and P.C. Drouin, who were both credited with the assists.

Frankie DeAngelis' power play goal (Leo Thomas assist) put the Komets up 2-0 midway through the first period, as Fort Wayne looked to control the Generals in the early going.

Frustration set in, and Flint's Tyler Willis decided to blow off some steam. You've all heard the saying "It takes two to tango", and Willis found himself someone to dance with, Fort Wayne's winger, Kaleigh Schrock. The boys circled each other for a moment, then it was time boogie. Willis and Schrock dropped the gloves, giving the fans at Perani something to hoot and holler about, as they engaged in some old-tyme fist-a-cuffs. The said participants were given 5 minute majors, and tossed into the sin bin. I'm sure they learned their lesson.

Flint's Nathan Ward cut the deficit to one goal, sliding one past the Komets' net- minder Tim Haun, in the first minute of the second period. John Mori and Nick Pernula were there to set Ward up, both tallied assists for their efforts.

Less than a minute later, Bryan Smolinski (1st point as General) and Jamie Schaafsma found Tony T. (Tuzzolino) as he tied it up 2-2. All of the sudden, the Generals offensive wheels were greased, and they were back in it.

The Generals turned up the intensity in the second period, knotting the game up at 2 a piece. They weren't done yet. Steve Silver blew one past Haun at the 8:25 mark, assisted by Tuzzolino and Schaafsma, as the Generals took the lead, and were in cruise control. The Generals outshot the Komets 17-11 in the second frame, and took the care of the puck at both ends.

Fort Wayne found themselves in a hole entering the third period, outshot and outplayed by the Generals for the previous twenty minutes.

P.C. Drouin notched his second point of the game with his tying goal seven minutes into the third period, which came as a resurgence to the winded Komets.

Drouin's goal would be the last lamp- lighter of regulation, we were headed to overtime, folks!

Five minutes of O.T. just wasn't enough to decide this sister kisser, which brought on the crowd pleasing shoot-out. Konstantin Shafranov deked J.F. Labbe in the first round of the shoot-out, and that goal proved to be enough to complete the Komets' come from behind win, 4-3 was the final.

The Generals drop to 2-6, as they await the arrival of the Quad City Mallards on Sunday November 8th. Come support your Flint Generals, and skate with the team after the game. Great seats are available, so come cheer on the hardest working guys in Flint, the Generals!