OHL North Bay Battalion

Troops stretch winning streak to five; host London Knights Sunday

Published on February 8, 2008 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


ERIE, Pa. - Goaltender Bryan Pitton made 28 saves to backstop the Brampton Battalion to a 3-0 victory Friday night over the Erie Otters, extending the Troops' Ontario Hockey League winning streak to five games.

Pitton, the winning goaltender for the Eastern Conference in the OHL's All-Star Classic at Sault Ste. Marie on Wednesday night, registered the third shutout of his major junior career and of the season.

Cory Emmerton had one goal and one assist and John Hughes and Matt Duchene scored one goal each as the Battalion moved into won-lost-extended record to 32-18-3 for 67 points, first in the Central Division.

Luke Lynes and Thomas Stajan contributed two assists each, with Lynes earning the 102nd of his OHL career to move past Michael Vernace into fifth place on the club's all-time list. Hughes, meanwhile, has scored in five consecutive games, the longest current such streak in the league.

The Troops, who swept the two-game season series against the Otters, haven't lost since a 2-1 setback to the host Barrie Colts on Jan. 26.

Goaltender Jaroslav Janus faced 40 shots for Erie, which fell to 11-38-3 for 25 points, fifth and last in the Midwest Division. The Otters hadn't played since a 7-3 loss on Battalion ice last Sunday.

Emmerton netted his 19th goal of the season, assisted by Lynes and Stajan, on a two-man advantage at 4:10 of the third period to cap the scoring, and Pitton shut the door the rest of the way. His last big stop came against Justin Hodgman on the power play midway in the period.

The Otters, who started the game in rambunctious fashion, returned to their chippy habits in the late going, but the Troops for the most part showed restraint.

The Battalion, which led 1-0 from late in the first period, doubled its lead on Duchene's 19th goal at 19:45 of the second. Janus got his right pad on the onrushing Emmerton's shot from the right-wing circle, but Duchene arrived in time to sweep the rubber home from the crease.

Pitton made several strong saves in the period, including a right-pad kick against Ryan O'Reilly in the eighth minute, a stop on Jordan Skellett in the slot in the 12th and back-to-back saves against Hodgman and Kelly Geoffrey in the 14th.

Hughes opened the scoring at 18:26 of the first period with his 25th goal. Graham McNabb delivered a solid check in the right-wing corner and fed the puck in front to Hughes, who slipped it between Janus's legs. Stajan got the second assist.

The Battalion was shorthanded early after Erie's Mike Liambas ran Bobby Sanguinetti into the boards to Pitton's right just 38 seconds after the opening faceoff. John de Gray grabbed Liambas, drawing an instigating minor, fighting major and misconduct to Liambas's major.

Janus had to cover up on a chance by Jason Dale set up by a pass from behind the net by Cody Hodgson in the sixth minute.

With the Battalion's Kyle DeCoste off for tripping, Pitton went side-to-side to rob Geoffrey on a backdoor play at the right-wing circle at 17:06, and Janus had all he could handle with a backhander from the lip of the crease by penalty killer Hodgson 22 seconds later.

Both teams were below the 20-player limit. The Battalion, which dressed 19, scratched Ben Alavie, Brad Albert, Alexander Eriksson and Kody Musselman. Erie, which had 17 in uniform, was without Mitch Gaulton, Frank Grzeszczak, Robyn Sertic and Doug Clarkson.

The Battalion hosts the London Knights at 2 p.m. Sunday.

BATTALION NOTEBOOK: Attendance at the Erie Civic Center's Tullio Arena was 2,967 ... The Battalion went 1-for-5 on the power play. Erie was 0-for-5 ... The Battalion is 15-9-3 on the road, while the Otters are 9-14-0 at home ... The Troops are 10-4-1 against Western Conference teams ... Pitton's previous shutouts came against the host Sudbury Wolves on Oct. 19 and the visiting Peterborough Petes on Dec. 2 ... The game was the first of four in a row at home for the Otters, who host the Saginaw Spirit on Saturday night ... Opening Battalion line combinations included Hodgson centring left winger Mike Lomas and right winger Dale, Stajan skating between left winger McNabb and right winger Hughes and Duchene centring left winger Emmerton and Lynes on right wing. Scott Tanski centred left winger Luke VanMoerkerke and right winger DeCoste ... Lynes played his 254th game, moving ahead of Wojtek Wolski into sole possession of second place on the Battalion's career list. Chris Rowan leads at 262 ... McNabb extended his club record for consecutive games to 190 ... Battalion defenceman Zack Shepley played his 200th OHL game. He played 176 over four seasons with the Plymouth Whalers before joining the Troops in a trade Dec. 7 ... Alavie has a broken nose and a concussion after being checked into the boards by Tyler Allen of the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors in a 6-1 home-ice victory Thursday night ... Albert and assistant coach Jamie Allison served the first game of two-game suspensions. Albert received a game misconduct after drawing an instigator penalty for a third-period bout with Mississauga's Zac Rinaldo, while Allison was ejected for arguing the call.

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