OHL North Bay Battalion

Butler Predicts Kingston Resurgence

Published on March 28, 2015 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


NORTH BAY, Ont. - The North Bay Battalion won the first battle in convincing fashion, but coach Stan Butler knows the war isn't over.

The Battalion, the Ontario Hockey League's reigning Eastern Conference champions, pounded the Kingston Frontenacs 8-0 Friday night in the opener of their best-of-seven conference quarterfinal.

North Bay, seeded third in the conference, erupted for five second-period goals, including four in a span of 5:00, and outshot sixth-seeded Kingston 42-18 overall.

Starting goaltender Lucas Peressini was besieged in the Frontenacs' crease, surrendering six goals on 31 shots before being relieved by Jeremy Helvig after Zach Bratina's goal at 16:43 of the second period.

"For me, the biggest evaluation is we won the game," said Butler, whose Troops host the second game at 2 p.m. Sunday. "Both teams are pretty evenly matched. Sometimes these types of games happen. They're a much better team than that, and we'll see that on Sunday."

Ryan Kujawinski, who played 168 games over four seasons with Kingston before being acquired in a trade Jan. 5, scored two goals.

"We played really hard and played a full 60 minutes," noted Kujawinski. "That's the way we need to play them. They're a hardworking team. We'll be ready for them. We'll play the same way."

Kujawinski scored shorthanded in the second period and added a third-period power-play goal as the frustrated Frontenacs were issued three penalties in the frame, including a late double minor for butt-ending to Conor McGlynn.

"It's playoff hockey," said Kujawinski. "You have to finish every check and be hard on the opposition, and that's what we did. There's a lot of emotion out there."

Battalion goaltender Jake Smith wasn't especially busy in collecting his fourth playoff shutout, adding to his franchise record, but he did have to deal with a number of threats from Kingston's productive trio of Sam Bennett, Lawson Crouse and Spencer Watson.

"Jake played very well," said Butler. "There's a reason he played right to the finals with us last season. When he had to make big saves he did; he made a great save on Bennett. He was ready to go, and he knows he has to be good because they have a really good goalie in Kingston and we know he'll bounce back."

All of Smith's postseason shutouts have come in series openers. He blanked the visiting Niagara IceDogs 4-0, the visiting Barrie Colts 1-0 and the host Oshawa Generals 1-0 last year as the Battalion marched to the conference title.

A Memorial Gardens crowd of 3,437 was vocal in support of the Troops.

"The seventh man is amazing," said Butler. "We have the best fans in the OHL, and it's proven over and over again. Their energy helps us be a better team."

The third and fourth games of the series are scheduled at Kingston on Tuesday and Thursday, both at 7 p.m.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 28, 2015


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