Scoring came early and often in the opening frame as J.R. Avon put one past Joe Vrbetic only 52 seconds in. However, a few minutes later Matvey Petrov, the first overall pick in the 2020 CHL Import Draft, tied up the game, with an assist from Ty Nelson, who was also making his long awaited debut in front of the home crowd.
After a few more back and forth moments, the Troops found themselves up 4-2, with just over five minutes to go in the first. Yet, other Russian import, Alexander Lukin, took a game misconduct penalty for a check to the head, which also resulted in a five-minute major penalty. On the ensuing powerplay, the Petes tied up the game at four before the end of the first.
The second period saw the two teams play to a draw, before the Battalion found the back of the net three times in the third, including a hat trick goal by Petrov.
“Good for Matvey,” head coach Ryan Oulahen said post game.
“One thing we know about him is he likes to score goals. He can really shoot the puck and he doesn’t need a lot of space to get that shot off. Probably a really good confidence booster for his first game to have a showing like that.”
“It feels good,” added Petrov.
“I’m very happy. Today the team was pretty good. But tomorrow is a new game and I think tomorrow is a big game.”
Overage forward Brandon Coe had a solid night recording two goals and adding two assists. Josh Currie and Kyle Jackson had the other tallies in the high-scoring affair.
As for the coach, Oulahen said the first period was expected.
“We were a very nervous hockey team,” he explained. “As much as you prepare and you talk about the things that go through, it’s good to get through that. In the first, I didn’t think we played our hockey.”
“In the second it was back and forth, and we certainly turned up the gear in the third. We had contributions from everybody. All lines were finding it and that third period is how we want to play the game.”
For North Bay, Thursday night represented the first game for the team since March 8, 2020.
The Troops are back in action tomorrow on the road against the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds.
