QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Still undefeated through the tournament following their 2-1 win over the Western Hockey League champion Kelowna Rockets, the Ontario Hockey League champion Oshawa Generals punched their ticket to the Memorial Cup tournament final. Dominating their opponent for first forty minutes of the game, Oshawa saw their opponent played much better in third having a golden opportunity to tie the game as the Western Hockey League team got two-man advantage for a minute with three minutes left in the game.
Fortunately for the Generals they were able to kill the two-man advantage and reamin undefeated. The game-winning goal came from Tobias Lindberg with less than four minutes remaining in middle frame. 
As neither team was able to break the ice in opening period the Ontario Hockey League Champion Oshawa get the edge over the Kelowna Rockets.
Like two boxers who studied themselves in beginning of fight neither players on both sides would like to be the one who would make the mistakes that will give the chance to the other team to score first goal. Best scoring chances for visiting team Generals came from Michael Dal Colle and Matt Mistele (4 shots each) other chances came from Anthony Cirelli, Cole Cassels, Brent Pederson and defenseman Dakota Mermis.
On Kelowna side, Rourke Chartier, Justin Kirkland, Cole Linaker, Leon Draisaitl and defenseman Madison Bowey were the one who got scoring opportunities. As the first period progress both teams became more physical.
Kelowna played better to begin the middle frame but Oshawa was the first team to break the ice. After Rockets goaltender Jackson Whistle made first save Mermis made perfect pass to teammate Cole Cassels scoring first Generals goal with 15:45 to go in second period.
Kelowna was the first beneficiary of the power play with 12:28 remaining in the second as Oshawa center Matt Mistele went in box for tripping at 7:32. Recognized to be very strong defensively the Ontario Hockey League team successfully killed the penalty allowing to Kelowna only one shot in three-third of the period. Kelowna second shot came from center ice with 8:42 to go in middle frame.
Oshawa added second goal to their lead. The pass from Sam Harding to Tobias Lindberg hit the right winger skates before he brought back to his stick before beating Western Hockey League netminder between his pads at 17:16 of second period.
Oshawa second goal seemed to wake Kelowna as they played better replying 55 seconds later with their first goal of the game. Limited by the Ontario Hockey League team to only 7 shots, Rockets center Gage Quinney scored on Kelowna 8th shot on goal in the game. Quinney beats Ken Appleby top shelve on right side with 1:49 remaining in middle frame.
Having their best moment in the game at the end of second period Kelowna began the third playing much better with two great chances to tie the game. One came from the stick of Rourke Chartier who hit the crossbar. The other from the Edmonton first round pick third overall in 2014 Draisaitl forcing Appleby to make key saves.
Couple minutes later it was Kelowna netminder who made key save stopping Oshawa left winger Bradley Letour on breakaway.
Kelowna got another golden opportunity to push the game in overtime when after Oshawa defenseman Dakota Mermis has been found guilty of kneeing at 15:36. Another Oshawa player went to the penalty box as Vancouver Canucks prospect selected in third round (86th overall) in 2013 Cole Cassel was guilty of delay of game at16:37 giving to Kelowna a five-on-three for almost a minute.
“I don’t think it was a penalty at first cause I don’t really know the rule but I will have to check it out. Yea I was really nervous,” admitted Cole Cassels as he was sit in the bench watching his teammate trying to kill Kelowna two-man advantage.
After the game Kelowna head coach was first to admit that Oshawa played very tight game. “No, to get a chance against Oshawa you have to work for it. Tonight they worked harder than us. Even if we have had several chances in the game, we didn’t have had enough in first two periods. Kelowna head coach Dan Lambert said.
“When we have had some in third their goaltender made key saves, players blocked shots. It is a real good hockey team. We didn’t play desperate hockey like we should play with.”
“To be honest with you, I think we were ok, I thought the second half of the first period they took over and then we never be in the offensive zone, we refused to shoot pucks. We tried to be cute and when you play a team like Oshawa if you try to be cute you are not gone a get a lot.”
The Kelowna head coach admitted that the five-on-three at the end of the game was key moment in the game. “It was, because of my angle I thought we have had couple opportunities from the other side we didn’t capitalized on, I thought we look nervous a little bit, and we squeeze our stick little too tight that happens when you really want to win.”
On the Oshawa side, General head coach D.J. Smith underlined his goaltender job. “I thought up to the third periods we played well they took over in the third and they have had all kind of chances. If it wasn’t for our goalie maybe we could still playing he was unbelievable tonight.”
Talking about the fact his team goes right to the final Oshawa head coach was really happy. “It is great feeling, to know you got one game to try to win whole thing, you don’t have to risk a semi-final which is great. Whether it will be Rimouski Quebec or Kelowna it will be formidable opponent and we know anyone could win on one game so, we have got to be ready and we will be.” Ended Oshawa head coach Smith.
Last game of the preliminary phase of the tournament will see the two teams from Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, a rematch of the QMJHL President Cup final. Quebec will face-off against Rimouski.
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