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 North Bay Battalion

Troubled Troops Eye Plenty of Positives

February 21, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


NORTH BAY, Ont. - For all its trials and tribulations, illnesses and injuries, the North Bay Battalion has some bright spots to which it can point.

For one, the Battalion, which suffered a third consecutive loss in a 7-3 road setback Friday night to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, could clinch a playoff berth in the Ontario Hockey League's Eastern Conference when it hosts the Niagara IceDogs at 2 p.m. Sunday.

The magic number for clinching a conference quarterfinal spot is three, meaning any combination of points earned by the Battalion or lost by the Mississauga Steelheads totaling three would clinch a berth for North Bay, which has a won-lost-extended record of 28-16-11 for 67 points.

Any combination totaling two points would guarantee at least a tiebreaker game against Mississauga, which fell 7-3 Saturday to the host Ottawa 67's and entertains the Guelph Storm on Sunday.

Ottawa, 33-20-3 for 69 points, is second in the East Division and third in the conference, two points ahead of the Troops, who hold a game in hand. The Barrie Colts, who were to host Niagara on Saturday night, are 35-18-2 for 72 points, five ahead of second-place North Bay in the Central Division.

The Battalion, which hasn't won since defeating the visiting Sudbury Wolves 5-2 last Sunday, has dealt in recent days with flu afflicting forwards Nick Paul and Mike Baird, injuries sidelining or hampering defencemen Austin Kosack and Brenden Miller and a schedule that will see the team play 16 games in a 32-day period ending next Saturday.

For all that, as well as the loss since Nov. 21 of left winger Zach Bratina to a concussion, the Battalion fared well in some areas against the Greyhounds, 44-11-2 for 90 points atop the Midwest Division and Western Conference.

Paul, despite having lost 12 pounds, scored two goals and Alex Henriksson one on the power play, which went 3-for-5. Nick Moutrey was foiled on a point-blank chance during another man-advantage opportunity in the second period, in which the Troops cut a three-goal deficit to 4-2.

Battalion penalty killing was good enough that coach Sheldon Keefe called timeout to talk to the Greyhounds during a Marcus McIvor minor early in the second period that saw the host side generate no shots on goal. The same held true after a subsequent Brett McKenzie penalty.

Wingers David Sherman and Kyle Moore, recalled from the Powassan Voodoos of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, played well flanking centre Zach Poirier and got ample ice time. Sherman drew a boarding call on Medric Mercier that set the stage for the opening goal, by Paul at 3:29 of the first period.

Jake Kment, who relieved starting goaltender Jake Smith after the first period, performed well, stopping 21 of 24 shots, including stoning Jared McCann on a second-period breakaway.

Niagara is fifth in the Eastern Conference, ahead of the Belleville Bulls, Kingston Frontenacs, Peterborough Petes and Mississauga, who are battling for the final three playoff berths. The Frontenacs got a boost Saturday when centre Sam Bennett, who underwent shoulder surgery in October, was reassigned to them by the National Hockey League's Calgary Flames.

After hosting Niagara, the Battalion starts a three-game road trip next Thursday night at Barrie, continuing it against the Kitchener Rangers and IceDogs.

Niagara defeated the visiting Petes 2-1 via shootout Friday night, when host Mississauga, also dealing with a scheduling challenge, lost 4-1 to Kingston before heading to Ottawa.


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