OHL North Bay Battalion

Peterborough Rallies for Skid-Stopping Win

February 16, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


PETERBOROUGH, Ont. - Josh MacDonald scored at 12:30 of the third period to complete the Peterborough Petes' comeback to a 3-2 Ontario Hockey League victory over the North Bay Battalion in a Family Day matinee Monday.

Josh Coyle and Nathan Pancel also scored for Peterborough, which trailed 2-0 after the first period. Goaltender Matthew Mancina made 27 saves as the Petes moved their won-lost-extended record to 21-27-5 for 47 points, fifth in the East Division.

Nick Moutrey and Alex Henriksson scored for the Battalion, while Mike Amadio assisted on both goals. Goaltender Jake Smith faced 32 shots for North Bay, 28-14-11 for 67 points, second in the Central Division. The Troops trail the Barrie Colts by five points with one game in hand.

The Battalion was without left winger Nick Paul, sidelined with flu-like symptoms.

MacDonald collected his team-leading 25th goal of the season from the left side of the crease as the trailer on a scrambled rush, snapping a three-game Peterborough losing skid since a 6-3 verdict Feb. 7 over the visiting Windsor Spitfires.

Smith left for a sixth skater with a minute to play, and the Battalion applied pressure but failed to produce the equalizer.

Pancel tied it 2-2 at 2:49 of the final period, chopping the puck home from the left side on assists by Jonathan Ang and Eric Cornel. It was Pancel's 20th goal of the season and his fifth since a trade from the Sudbury Wolves.

The Battalion, which forged a 15-7 edge in first-period shots, jumped out to the lead on Moutrey's power-play goal at 9:47. Amadio shot the puck from the right side of the slot, and Moutrey tipped it past Mancina. It was Moutrey's 17th goal of the season and his second with the Troops.

Henriksson struck at 13:34, cruising across the goalmouth to backhand home the rebound of a Riley Bruce drive. Henriksson has 16 goals.

North Bay failed to score during a two-man advantage lasting 1:21 late in the frame after Josh Maguire and Matt Spencer went off for kneeing and a check to the head respectively.

Coyle connected at 5:13 of the second period. Logan DeNoble backhanded the puck toward the net, and it struck Coyle to deflect under the crossbar behind Smith, who appeared screened.

What was the Troops' best chance probably came shorthanded with Brenden Miller off for hooking. Penalty killer Miles Liberati was set up in alone on Mancina, who made a solid right-pad save.

The Battalion hosts the Kitchener Rangers at 7 p.m. Thursday.

BATTALION BULLETS: Smith made his 100th start, becoming the sixth goaltender in franchise history to do so. Brad Topping holds the record with 140 starts ... Moutrey scored his 50th career goal. The Saginaw Spirit's first-round pick in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection who was acquired in a Jan. 4 trade, Moutrey has 92 assists and 142 points in 246 games ... Amadio leads the team in scoring with 22 goals and 35 assists for 57 points in 53 games ... The Battalion is 12-8-6 on the road. Peterborough is 12-14-2 at home ... The Battalion went 1-for-4 on the power play. Peterborough was 0-for-3 ... Opening line combinations included Amadio centring Hampus Olsson on left wing and right winger Henriksson, Brett McKenzie centring Ryan Kujawinski on left wing and right winger Moutrey and Ray Huether skating between left winger Mike Baird and right winger Mathew Santos. Defenceman Zach Shankar centred left winger Owen Green and Zach Poirier on right wing ... Apart from Paul, the Battalion scratched Austin Kosack and Zach Bratina ... North Bay posted a record of 2-2-0 against Peterborough this season, winning twice at home, 3-2 via shootout Oct. 3 and 7-2 on Nov. 14, while losing 2-1 on the road Nov. 6 ... The Battalion is 7-5-3 against the East Division ... The referees were T.J. Foster and Steve Picco.

Check out the North Bay Battalion Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 16, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central