OHL North Bay Battalion

'Workmanlike' Showing Gives Battalion Win

March 6, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


NORTH BAY, Ont. - Ryan Kujawinski scored one goal and added an assist to lead the North Bay Battalion to a 3-1 Ontario Hockey League victory Thursday night over the Belleville Bulls.

Mike Amadio and Nick Moutrey also scored for the Battalion, while goaltender Jake Smith faced 22 shots, losing a shutout bid in the final seconds.

North Bay improved its won-lost-extended record to 31-18-11 for 73 points, second in the Central Division. The Troops moved into third place in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of the idle Ottawa 67's.

Trent Fox scored for Belleville, 25-29-7 for 57 points, fourth in the East Division and seventh in the conference. Goaltender Connor Hicks made 29 saves before a Memorial Gardens crowd of 3,093.

Zach Bratina returned to the Battalion lineup after missing 38 games with a concussion, while Brenden Miller played for the first time in four games after being sidelined with a sore hip. The Troops were at home for the first time since Feb. 22.

"It wasn't a real fancy game, but it was a good workmanlike game," said Battalion coach Stan Butler. "We did the things we had to do to win. Not every game is going to be a perfect game, but one good thing about tonight is we got perfect results."

Butler said he was pleased with Bratina's play.

"We told him just go out there and play your game and don't put too much pressure on yourself."

Butler noted that the lines centred by Nick Paul and Amadio looked to be hitting stride.

"I thought they were both good lines. We're finally starting to get some chemistry with our lines, which is important. As guys get to play together more, that will help."

Amadio opened the scoring at 5:18 of the first period, snapping the puck home from the right-wing circle shortly after Kujawinski, who drew the lone assist, was foiled on a solid chance. The goal was Amadio's 23rd of the season and his first since Jan. 23, ending a 17-game drought.

Moutrey struck 13 seconds into the middle period after a defender mishandled the puck in the high slot, allowing Moutrey to move in alone on Hicks. Moutrey scored his 20th goal of the season and his fifth with the Battalion since a Jan. 4 trade from the Saginaw Spirit.

Kujawinski connected on the power play at 15:36, wiring the puck past Hicks from the top of the left circle. Miles Liberati and Marcus McIvor assisted on Kujawinski's 27th goal of the season, his 14th since a Jan. 5 trade from the Kingston Frontenacs.

Fox scored on a deflection through traffic at 19:48 of the third period, denying Smith his fifth shutout of the campaign. Adam Bignell and Jesse Saban had the assists.

The Battalion visits the Sudbury Wolves at 7 p.m. Saturday. The game can be seen live in North Bay on TVCogeco Cable 12 and heard on Country 600 CKAT.

BATTALION BULLETS: The Bulls won 3-2 on Oct. 30 in their previous visit to North Bay. The game saw Adam Laishram credited with a bizarre goal in the sixth round of a 10-round shootout as the puck rolled into the net after Smith, who sent the disc soaring with a blocker save, left the crease to celebrate apparent victory. Video of the play went viral on the Internet and was reviewed by the National Hockey League ... Kujawinski has four goals and six assists for 10 points in the last five games ... Liberati has two goals and six assists for eight points in the last five games ... Bratina ‚¬â„¢s last action came in a 2-1 win Nov. 21 at Sudbury. His first shift was greeted with applause and bell-ringing ... The Battalion went 1-for-4 on the power play. Belleville was 0-for-5 ... Opening lines included Paul centring Brett McKenzie on left wing and right winger Moutrey, Amadio centring Kujawinski on left wing and right winger Alex Henriksson and Ray Huether pivoting left winger Bratina and right winger Mathew Santos. Zach Poirier centred Zach Shankar, a defenceman, on left wing and right winger Hampus Olsson ... The Battalion scratched Owen Green, Mike Baird and Mark Shoemaker ... The Bulls, who dressed 19, one below the limit, scratched Justin Lemcke, Stephen Harper and Jordan Subban, the last two said to be decisions by coach George Burnett.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 6, 2015


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