After a five game losing streak, the North Bay Battalion have now put together a four game winning streak after taking down Shane Wright and the Kingston Frontenacs 5-2 Sunday.
The victory gave North Bay six out of a possible six points on their weekend schedule.
“Ultimately this is a really successful weekend for us,” said Ryan Oulahen, North Bay’s head coach. “Coming in to this weekend it was going to be three really hard games. Sault Ste Marie is a really good team, so is Kingston here.
“They had a few guys out but I thought their group made it hard on us, especially the first couple of periods. We were able to capitalize on some of the chances we got because they were pushing the game a bit but credit to our guys for finishing and sticking with the plan. I liked our last eight minutes of keeping it simple and putting pucks in and really starting to see this group is ready for this time of year and the hockey they have to play.”
It was the Frontenacs who opened the scoring in this one as half way through the first Paul Hughes (2) solved Joe Vrbetic with a bouncing puck in the crease. Yet, just over a minute later with the Troops on the powerplay, Kyle McDonald knotted it at one with his 20th of the season (his third since being acquired in a trade with Windsor). The goal was the first of five unanswered by the Battalion.
After a back and forth start to the second, Mitchell Russell (24) gave North Bay the 2-1 lead after being left alone in the Fronts crease. Two minutes later, Brett Bouchard, a recent call up to North Bay, scored his first OHL goal on a tip-in.
Lately with other first goals coming off the board, Oulahen has joked about them being highlight reel as his first was also a tip in.
“That was a little more typical of a first goal,” laughed Oulahen.
“What a good game by him. I have been very impressed since he has come up and it’s not easy making that jump from midget hockey. Very smart guy, does things right, stops on pucks and makes plays. He’s not nervous out there and he is making a difference which is really exciting.”
In the third North Bay added on with a goal from Brandon Coe (27) and a shorthanded marker from Dalyn Wakely (12). With just under a minute to play, the presumptive first overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Shane Wright scored his 17th off a feed from North Bay product Lucas Edmonds, 5-2 was the final.
After the weekend, Oulahen says the team is starting to regain its confidence.
“It’s a good feeling and we know what this feeling is like. We have battled through some things in the last couple of months and this feeling has gone through. We knew going through the adversity would be healthy for us and now we’re seeing us coming out and getting through this.
“Ultimately, we have talked about secondary scoring, all those kids who played a lot of minutes through it are starting to benefit and it’s exciting to watch them.”
North Bay is back in action Thursday when they host the rival Niagara IceDogs. Puck drop from the Gardens is at 7 p.m. and you can catch the game live on YourTV North Bay, or the Frontline Gameday Broadcast on the Battalion YouTube channel.
