It was a clash of two division leaders Sunday night at Memorial Gardens, and the North Bay Battalion finally found their home mojo, overcoming a 2-0 deficit and defeating the OHL-leading Erie Otters 3-2 in overtime Sunday. The Otters are ranked fourth in the latest CHL Top 10 list.
The positive vibes coming from the Battalion dressing room post-game made the big win feel as though this was the start of something much bigger. The game was by far the most entertaining, and most satisfying for the locals this season.
Harland has been red hot. He scored the winner, which was his second of the game and sixth in four contests. He deflected the praise to his teammates after his overtime heroics. On the OT winner, Harland explained that "Lyle gave me a great pass, things are clicking for me right now.
"I've been putting pucks on net like the coaches told me to, and it's been going my way. Anything to help the team," said Harland.
The Otters, winners of 14 of their last 16 heading into Sunday's game, arrived in North Bay coming off a loss to the Soo Greyhounds Saturday night. The Otters have been stellar at home with an 11-0-1-0 record but were playing just .500 hockey on the road following Friday's 2-1 win over the Sudbury Wolves and Saturday's tilt with the Greyhounds.
The Battalion, second in the Eastern Conference by virtue of their leading the Central Division, have so far been unable to put together a string of solid home performances. Their road record has been remarkable, and the trend continued Saturday evening with a 5-2 win in Barrie over the Colts.
Head Coach Stan Butler has acknowledged the peculiar home/road split for his squad. Since their move to North Bay, the Battalion have traditionally been a force on home ice, but this year's slower start has not fazed the coach.
"I think the biggest thing is we won another game at home. We're trying to get our home record back to where we want it to be. It's great to beat them (Erie) but we just want to win home games right now," said Butler.
The Battalion had both Adam McMaster, back from the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, and Brett McKenzie, who represented Team OHL in the CIBC Canada Russia Series in the lineup this weekend. Butler was also in his traditional spot behind the home bench after assisting Erie head coach Kris Knoblauch with Team Ontario Thursday. Rookie offensive defenceman Adam Thilander, out sick, missed both Saturday and Sunday's games.
The Troops would need all hands on deck as the Otters entered Sunday's action with 95 goals scored, 10 clear of their nearest competitor, and feature the top-two scorers in the league in Taylor Raddysh (44 points) and freshly-signed Chicago Blackhawks prospect Alex DeBrincat (39 points).
Ultimately, the big scorers were not silenced, but rather neutralized, and that was enough on this night. Taylor Raddysh and DeBrincat were held to an assist apiece.
Butler, on containing the league-leading scorers, said "they have a really good, skilled team," and when facing such a team, "everybody has to work together, the goalie and the five guys on the ice have to be aware of guys. Make no mistake, those guys will get their chances. You won't eliminate them, but you can minimize them."
Erie gave starter Troy Timpano the night off, so Anand Oberoi, called up from the CCHL Nepean Raiders, got his first taste of OHL action, opposing the Troops' Brent Moran, who is third in minutes played in the OHL thus far.
The best chance of the first half of the opening period went to Otters' forward Gera Poddubnyi, who rang a heavy wrist shot off of the corner of the bar over Moran's glove hand.
The Otters opened the scoring as Kyle Maksimovich converted a passing play from the big guns, Taylor Raddysh and DeBrincat.
Shots on goal after the first were 11-5 in favour of Erie.
Seven minutes into the second period, with the Otters' Kyle Pettit serving a minor penalty for high-sticking, McKenzie had a point-blank shot snared on a remarkable save by Oberoi.
Less than two minutes later, it was Moran's turn, robbing DeBrincat with a stretching pad save to keep the deficit at one.
Erie extended their lead to 2-0, as Kyle Pettit scored his 11th, pouncing on a Moran rebound. Allan McShane and Darren Raddysh drew the assists.
At 15:05, the Troops solved call-up Oberoi. Steve Harland scored in close, and in his fourth straight contest, this one from Maurizio Colella. It was Harland's 10th on the season, cutting the deficit in half.
As the second period wound down, Justin Brazeau carried into the Erie zone, circling while waiting for his teammates to join the play. The puck ended up on McKenzie's stick, he fired quickly and banked the puck into the net off of Oberoi. After initially signalling no-goal, the play was reviewed by referee Steve Picco, and it was ruled that the puck had indeed crossed the goal line before time expired. Zach Shankar and Brazeau were awarded assists on the goal, scored officially at 19:59. It was McKenzie's team-leading 12th goal of the season and tied the game 2-2.
After the game, Butler indicated that the McKenzie goal was a turning point for his group. "Obviously it's a big goal. We wouldn't be talking about winning if that didn't go in. It shows you that you have to play till the end."
Shots on goal after two periods were 25-18 for the Otters.
Still flying high from McKenzie's buzzer beater, the Troops came out for the third period looking to hand the Otters a second straight defeat, which would be their first losing streak since dropping their first two games of the season.
Just under nine minutes into the third period, Brett Hargrave wired a shot off the post behind Oberoi, but the puck stayed out.
The Troops earned a powerplay opportunity at 10:15 as T.J. Fergus was sent off for hooking, but could not get the go-ahead goal.
With five minutes to play, Taylor Raddysh fed a behind-the-back pass to DeBrincat who tipped the puck on net, but Moran made his best save of the evening, keeping the game tied 2-2.
With 3-on-3 overtime looming, the Troops pressed yet again for the winner. They had numerous chances, but could not settle things in regulation. As time expired for the third period, the home crowd rose to their feet, showing their appreciation of the Battalion's effort.
Shots favoured Erie 34-26 after three periods.
In overtime, Butler, with last change, sent out McKenzie, Harland and Cam Dineen. Erie coach Kris Knoblauch seemed content to hold his big line for the next shift.
Harland said he was surprised because his line had been matched up with the Otters' scoring line all game long, but their success in containing the duo may have forced the change in Knoblauch's strategy.
McShane skated in from the blueline, taking advantage of the open ice, and fired, but Moran made the glove save. Moments later, the dangerous DeBrincat had an opportunity, but Moran again steered the puck away.
At 3:52 of overtime, Harland played give-and-go with Lyle in the Otters end and roofed the puck to beat Oberoi. The Gardens fans stood, cheering until the players left the ice, having witnessed North Bay's best home game this season.
Harland was the game's first star, followed by Moran and Oberoi.
The Battalion face the Kingston Frontenacs Thursday at Memorial Gardens. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
