Matthew Soto's Five-Point Night Gives Peterborough the Win Over Rival Oshawa Generals

Matthew Soto helped the Petes prevail during OHL Rivalry Week with five points en route to a 7-3 win over the Oshawa Generals at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night.

The Petes are fourth in the East Division with a 4-4-0-1 record. Photo courtesy of Kenenth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.

The Petes coughed up the opening goal as they turned over the puck in their own zone and Brooks Rogowski wristed one home for a 1-0 lead just 2:47 into the period.

It took almost 13 minutes but Peterborough got the equalizer after Brennan Falkner had a turnaround bid from the high slot and scored for a tie game. Soto had the primary assist from a rebound shot. It took 67 seconds for the Petes to strike again as Soto had a breakaway shorthanded and got it above the pad for a 2-1 lead after the first period.

Peterborough kept rolling as Kaden McGregor got a juicy rebound from a Gerry DiCunzolo shot and the former buried it home for his second goal of the season. Adam Novotný got on the scoreboard just under six minutes later after pouncing on a rebound from a Thanasi Marentette point shot. He scored to make it 4-1 and Soto got the secondary assist on the play. Vadim Smirnov got one back for the Generals late in the period and it was a 4-2 game after two frames.

Soto found the back of the net just 17 seconds into the final period with a tip-in from a James Petrovski cross-crease pass. He struck again after a loose puck rebound found the back of his stick. He got it past the goaltender with a backhand shot from one knee for the hat trick and fifth point of the night. Peterborough kepts pouring it on as Novotný wristed one home from inside the faceoff circle for his second of the game. The Generals tacked one on late but the Petes easily left the Memorial Centre with a 7-3 win.

The Petes continue the OHL’s Rivalry Week on Saturday when they host the Ottawa 67’s. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

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