The North Bay Battalion and the visiting Ottawa 67’s find themselves in a situation they both haven’t been in for quite a few seasons. In the bottom three of the eastern conference, fighting for a playoff spot.
Going into this game the 67’s sit at fourth in the east division and the Troops at fifth in the central.
Which made the 4-3 Battalion loss matter even more.
Despite a quick goal from Battalion defender Aaron Enright, Ottawa stormed back and scored four goals in a row in the opening frame. A mark that would be insurmountable, despite a solid effort in the following periods from the North Bay squad.
“I just ultimately think our guys maybe getting that early goal thought it was going to be a little bit easy today, and we got stung in ten minutes of a hockey game,” noted head coach of the Battalion Ryan Oulahen on the opening period of play.
The puck dropped, and after a quick chip into the Ottawa zone forward Briir Long won the puck behind the 67’s net, and promptly flung the puck up to defender Aaron Enright at the point, who wired a wrister through traffic and past netminder Jaeden Nelson for the 1-0 goal.
The visitors though would not be deterred. Just over a minute after the Battalion goal, Chase Yanni would bash home a loose puck up against the post that was dumped in by Nic Whitehead to knot the game up at one a piece.
The Battalion would shortly after find themselves in a five-on-three penalty kill that was effectively killed off by solid blocks, clears, and a few slick saves from goalie Mike McIvor.
This unfortunately would be the end of the positives in the opening period.
Playing shorthanded and strong in their own zone, Jack Dever would send Bradley Horner racing up the ice with Will Gerrior in tow on a two on one. Horner would hold the puck until almost reaching the goal line, then with a clean flip sent the puck to Gerrior who sent in the shorthanded 2-1 goal.
And from that point, much like a barber pole the period would spin out of control for the home team.
A bad clearing attempt by Shamar Moses gave Josh Brady a clean look from the top slot and Ottawa their third goal of the game.
Then in the dying minutes of the period it would be Dever winning a board battle and sending the puck to Chris Barlas in the slot. Barlas would find an undefended Caden Kelly down low who cut across the crease, beating a sprawling McIvor to extend the Ottawa lead 4-1.
While Kelly’s goal may have ended the scoring in the first period it was far from the end of the action.
Forward Shamar Moses dropped the gloves, but the bell went unanswered, and he went to the box for unsportsmanlike conduct. Once play resumed Van Steensel, Ride, Procyszyn, Gerrior and Foster all got physical and all got penalties, with Van Steensel being the odd man out for a high stick.
This gave Ottawa their second five on three of the game to start the second period.
Fortunately for the guys in white and green nothing would come of it.
And with that kill would be a nice momentum swing for the Troops.
North Bay would be given a string of power play opportunities, all thanks to multiple infractions from Henry Mews. It would be on their second opportunity on a four-minute advantage the Battalion would get another tick in the goal column.
A beautiful individual effort from Lirim Amidovski down low saw him corral the puck forehand, backhand and over the blocker shoulder of Nelson to cut the lead 4-2, and Amidovski’s 10th of the season. Assists go to Wyatt Kennedy and Nick Wellenreiter on the play.
“Obviously a goal changes the momentum of a game," said Amidovski.
"I think we were harder on pucks after that."
And indeed they were.
With just under five minutes in the second, shorthanded due to a Bronson ride infraction, Nick Wellenreiter decided to take matters into his own hands. With the puck, Wellenreiter burned through the centre faceoff dot past two 67’s attackers, leaving him in a one on one as he crossed over the opposing blue line.
Facing down a defending Henry Mews he cut to the outside, carrying the puck on his backhand, then rifling the biscuit high and into the back of the net from just below the blocker-side faceoff dot to close out the period. Battalion now trailing by only a goal 4-3.
The third period saw the Battalion firmly in control of the pace of play.
Multiple individual efforts by Reyth Smith and Briir Long gave North Bay some fantastic individual chances but all were shut down by either a timely stick or a fantastic save by Jaeden Nelson.
Despite the push, the final buzzer sounded and it was Ottawa skating away with the win.
Final score 4-3.
Shots on goal 39-37 In favour of the Battalion.
The Battalion won’t have to wait long for a chance at redemption as they face the Soo Greyhounds at North Bay Memorial Gardens for their annual “Teddy Bear Toss” night on Wednesday December 18th at 7 p.m.
