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OHL North Bay Battalion

Wolves Ambush Troops with 3-2 Decision

February 11, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


SUDBURY, Ont. - Suddenly, the Sudbury Wolves are showing some bite.

Kyle Capobianco's goal at 11:09 of the third period was the difference as the Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 3-2 Wednesday night, snapping Sudbury's 10-game Ontario Hockey League home-ice losing streak.

Jacob Harris had one goal and one assist and Matt Schmalz also scored for the Wolves, who earned their first win at the Sudbury Community Arena since a 3-1 decision Dec. 13 over the Kingston Frontenacs.

Goaltender Troy Timpano made 41 saves for Sudbury, which has a won-lost-extended record of 9-40-2 for 20 points, fifth in the Central Division and last in the league. The Wolves won for the second time in three games since an 18-game skid.

Nick Paul and Kyle Wood scored a goal apiece and Nick Moutrey had two assists for the Battalion, 26-13-11 for 63 points, second in the division. Jake Smith faced 25 shots in goal for North Bay, which had won the five previous meetings with the Wolves this season.

"Give Sudbury credit; they played hard," said Battalion coach Stan Butler. "We were sloppy in the third period and didn't play with urgency."

Paul opened the scoring 54 seconds into the second period before an announced crowd of 3,221. Mike Amadio outdueled Danny Desrochers for the puck behind the net and fed the disc to Paul, who fired it over Timpano's right shoulder from the slot. It was Paul's team-leading 26th goal of the season.

The Battalion held a 14-10 edge in shots in the frame. Timpano was tested twice by Amadio as well as by Wood, Owen Green and Hampus Olsson. Sudbury's best opportunities came after Miles Liberati went off for interference and unsportsmanlike conduct at 6:59, but Smith made two stops on drives by Capobianco.

Schmalz tied it at 3:50 of the third period, 10 seconds after Amadio was banished for checking from behind. Schmalz one-timed the puck home from the left side on a pass from Jacob Harris deep on the right wing.

Harris gave Sudbury a 2-1 lead at 9:09. Brett McKenzie turned over the puck at the Battalion blue line, and Jenys worked it deep to Harris, who steered a forehand deke around a sprawling Smith.

On the winning goal, Michael Pezzetta's drive from the slot was blocked by a defender before the puck slid to defenceman Capobianco, who backhanded it inside the right post.

A penalty was pending to Schmalz when Wood pulled the Troops within a goal at 16:14, banging home a loose puck at the lip of the crease. Paul and Moutrey earned the assists on defenceman Wood's 16th goal.

Smith twice went to the bench for a sixth skater for a total of 1:47 starting at 18:56, but the Battalioon was unable to generate a scoring chance until the final seconds.

North Bay outshot Sudbury 13-6 in the first period, in which each team enjoyed a power play. The Battalion had a good chance early, but Timpano turned away Ryan Kujawinski in the deep slot, and the goaltender also produced saves on Moutrey, off a right-wing rush, and Amadio from the slot.

The Battalion, which has played its last three games on the road, hosts the London Knights at 7 p.m. Thursday.

BATTALION BULLETS: Despite the fact that a feed from Sudbury was available, TVCogeco Cable 12 did not carry the game for North Bay viewers ... The Battalion suffered its first regulation-time loss in eight games since a 5-3 setback Jan. 23 to the host Oshawa Generals. The Troops had five wins and two shootout losses in seven subsequent games ... Sudbury ended a franchise-record 18-game losing streak with a 4-3 win last Friday night over the host Guelph Storm as Travis Wood scored the deciding goal at 13:31 of the third period. The Wolves then lost 7-1 to the host Barrie Colts on Saturday night ... The Troops' Brenden Miller saw the end of a career-high six-game points streak in which he had three goals and four assists for seven points ... The Battalion went 0-for-3 on the power play. Sudbury was 1-for-4 ... Opening line combinations included Paul centring Moutrey on left wing and Amadio on right wing, McKenzie centring Kujawinski on left wing and right winger Alex Henriksson and Ray Huether pivoting Olsson on left wing and right winger Mathew Santos. Green centred left winger Mike Baird and Zach Poirier on right wing ... The Battalion was without Zach Shankar, Zach Bratina and Mark Shoemaker ... Desrochers left late in the second period after being hit by a shot but was back for the third ... The Wolves visit North Bay on Sunday for the seventh of eight season meetings.

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