Smith Stymies Storm as Troops Win 4-0
January 29, 2016 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release
GUELPH, Ont. - Goaltender Jake Smith made 21 saves, including one on a penalty shot, to record his ninth career Ontario Hockey League shutout as the North Bay Battalion blanked the Guelph Storm 4-0 Friday night.
Mathew Santos provided two goals and one assist while Cam Dineen and Max Kislinger also scored for the Battalion, which improved its won-lost-extended record to 24-16-6 for 54 points. The Troops remained tied for second place in the Central Division and third in the Eastern Conference with the Niagara IceDogs, who downed the host Sudbury Wolves 6-1.
Smith's shutout, his first since a 6-0 verdict over the visiting Wolves on Jan. 25, 2015, tied the all-time franchise record set by former creasemate Matej Machovsky.
It was the Battalion's first shutout since Jake Kment blanked the visiting Kingston Frontenacs 6-0 on March 22, 2015. Smith posted the previous road shutout, a 5-0 decision over the Mississauga Steelheads on Dec. 12, 2014.
Smith preserved the shutout by stopping Isaac Ratcliffe on a penalty shot at 7:00 of the third period. Referee Seth Ferguson awarded the penalty shot after David Sherman shoveled a broken stick at the puck as C.J. Garcia prepared to shoot off the left wing. Ratcliffe was tabbed to take the shot, and Smith sprawled to deny Ratcliffe's deke.
Michael Giugovaz made 32 saves in goal for Guelph before a Sleeman Centre crowd of 4,694. The Storm is 9-31-6 for 24 points, last in the Midwest Division, the Western Conference and the league.
"It's a big two points," said Santos. "Everyone aims for home ice in the playoffs, and that's one of our goals here."
Dineen scored what proved to be the winner at 18:43 of the first period, driving to the net off the right wing to backhand home a feed from Amadio, who had two assists. Santos also assisted on defenceman Dineen's 11th goal of the season.
Smith was solid in the period, making seven saves, including on chances for James McEwan, Jake Bricknell and Givani Smith. Guelph failed to generate a shot during the period's only power play.
The Troops struck for two goals in a span of 1:05 in the second period, sparked by Santos at 4:07 when he hammered an Amadio feed from the end boards over Giugovaz's glove from the deep slot.
Kislinger got credit for a goal at 5:12 as he joined Justin Brazeau in whacking at a loose puck at the lip of the crease. Brett McKenzie and Zach Shankar assisted on Kislinger's fifth goal.
The Troops built an 11-8 edge in shots in the period, testing Giugovaz several times early as the goaltender dealt with chances from McKenzie, Dineen, Kyle Wood and Steve Harland, while Mark Shoemaker hit the crossbar.
Guelph's best chance came in the 12th minute when penalty killer Nicolas Sicoly broke in alone on Smith and put the puck off the right post, with McEwan unable to corral the rebound.
Santos struck shorthanded into an empty net at 16:24 of the third period to end the scoring. After a timeout, the Storm went on the power play with Giugovaz on the bench, but Santos wired the puck down the ice from his own blue line. The unassisted goal was Santos's 17th.
The Battalion plays host to Sudbury at 2 p.m. Sunday.
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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 29, 2016
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