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OHL North Bay Battalion

Attack Wins Via Shootout

January 6, 2019 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


OWEN SOUND, Ont. - Aidan Dudas scored the only goal of a shootout as the Owen Sound Attack rallied to defeat the North Bay Battalion 4-3 Saturday night, ending the Troops' Ontario Hockey League winning streak at seven games.

Bryce Caruk, Nick Suzuki and Brady Lyle scored in regulation time for the revamped Attack, which made two trades Friday and Saturday. Starting goaltender Andrew MacLean allowed three goals on six shots before being relieved by Mack Guzda, who stopped 18 shots through overtime for the hosts, who trailed 3-0 early in the second period.

The win before a crowd of 3,146 improved Owen Sound's won-lost-extended record to 21-15-3 for 45 points, tied with the Guelph Storm for second place in the Midwest Division.

Luke Burghardt had one goal and one assist and Brad Chenier and Nick King also scored for North Bay, 18-18-3 for 39 points, fourth in the Central Division. Goaltender Christian Purboo faced 47 shots through overtime as the Battalion, which opened a two-game road trip, lost for the first time since a 5-1 setback to the host Hamilton Bulldogs on Dec. 9.

Caruk got Owen Sound on the board at 10:25 of the second period. Zachary Roberts, who gloved the puck with a closed hand to control it, broke in on Purboo on a play that appeared to be offside and, after the goaltender blocked an initial shot, Caruk rushed to the net and deflected the disc home off his right skate. After linesman Andre Grougrou and referee Pat Myers each conferred with the video goal judge, the goal stood.

After Lyle drilled the puck off the crossbar in the 19th minute of the second frame, Owen Sound pulled even on two third-period power-play goals.

Suzuki struck first at 3:03 when his shot from the right-wing circle glanced off the left skate of defender Theo Calvas into the net. Purboo produced an outstanding left-pad save on Dudas, but Braden Henderson cleared the rebound straight to defenceman Lyle, who hammered it to the high glove side at 6:17 as Purboo contended with Suzuki and Dudas in front. Referee Darcy Burchell consulted the video goal judge to determine whether the puck had been knocked in by a high stick, and the goal was allowed to stand.

The Attack held a 19-6 edge in shots in the period, with Suzuki enjoying several opportunities.

Owen Sound had the first good chance in overtime, but Purboo denied Sean Durzi alone in front. Dudas went off for tripping at 2:03, with North Bay's best scoring chance coming off the stick of Henderson, who fired a drive from the left circle.

The Battalion went first in the shootout, and Guzda denied Justin Brazeau, Chenier and Brandon Coe. Purboo turned away Adam McMaster and Suzuki before Dudas ended it.

The Battalion scored on two of five first-period shots, with Burghardt connecting first with the man advantage at 6:47. He took a short pass from Mitchell Russell and ripped the puck high over MacLean's glove from the right circle. It was the first goal of the season for Burghardt, who missed the first 28 games with a spinal issue. He scored for the first time since a 5-1 road win over the Peterborough Petes last March 15.

Chenier made it 2-0 at 15:12. The Attack's Carter Robertson missed the Battalion net with a drive from the blue line, and the puck rimmed into the neutral zone, where Chenier caught up to it and, with Dudas in tow, beat MacLean low to the glove side. The unassisted goal was Chenier's 21st.

MacLean's night came to an end at 1:38 of the second period as King moved into the high slot and ripped a Burghardt feed past the goaltender's glove. Russell drew the second assist on defenceman King's fifth goal.

The Battalion completes the road trip by visiting Guelph at 2 p.m. Sunday. The game can be seen live in North Bay on YourTV Channels 12 and 700 and heard on Country 600 CKAT.

BATTALION BULLETS: Owen Sound dealt defenceman Markus Phillips to Guelph on Saturday for six OHL Priority Selection picks, numbering three second-rounders, one of them conditional, two thirds and a conditional fourth. On Friday, the Attack sent centre Kevin Hancock to the London Knights for defenceman Andrew Perrott and a third-round pick this year. When traded, Hancock was second in league scoring with 32 goals and 32 assists for 64 points in 38 games ... The 47 shots were the most the Battalion has allowed this season, eclipsing the 45 surrendered in a 4-1 loss to the visiting Petes on Oct. 8 ... Russell faced his former teammates for the first time since the Battalion acquired him Dec. 28 for fellow forward McMaster. In five games with the Troops, Russell has three goals and three assists for six points ... The Battalion's Mason Primeau played his 100th OHL game. He skated in 80 games with Guelph before a Nov. 15 trade to North Bay ... Chenier has a six-game points streak in which he has seven goals and four assists for 11 points ... Purboo played for the first time in nine games ... The Battalion went 1-for-3 on the power play. Owen Sound was 2-for-5 ... The Battalion, which dressed 19, one below the limit, was without Travis Mailhot, Simon Rose, Kurtis Evans and Payton Vescio ... The teams complete their two-game season series Feb. 28 at North Bay.

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