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Troops win 4-1, lead series 3-2 over Colts

Mike Amadio, Vincent Praplan and Barclay Goodrow all celebrate Marcus McIvors game winner as the Battalion take a 3-2 series lead. Photo by Chris Dawson. Photo gallery by Kate Adams.

Mike Amadio, Vincent Praplan and Barclay Goodrow all celebrate Marcus McIvors game winner as the Battalion take a 3-2 series lead.  Photo by Chris Dawson. Photo gallery by Kate Adams.

Four unanswered goals in the third period gave the North Bay Battalion a 4-1 come-from-behind win over the Barrie Colts Friday night at Memorial Gardens.

The victory gives the Troops a 3-2 Eastern Conference semi-final series lead with game six Sunday evening in Barrie.

The first two periods featured tight checking and few real scoring chances, but the game started to open up late in the second.

But it was the Colts that came roaring out of the gate early in the third when Brendan Lemieux fired a blistering wrister over the right shoulder of goalie Jake Smith just 42 seconds into the period. It was Lemieux’s 7th of the playoffs, but 4th in the last two games.

Troops didn’t fold though…Nick Paul banked one off Colt’s goalie Dan Gibl’s pad from behind the net five minutes later to get the team rolling.

“To their credit they kept working,” said Coach Stan Butler of his players after the game. “And it was nice to see Nick Paul get a goal in this series. From there we got a little momentum and it started to bounce our way.”

Just 32 seconds later defenceman Marcus McIvor got a power play goal from the point to increase the lead to 2-1.

The fans had barely settled back in their seats when Captain Barclay Goodrow scored his 6th of the playoffs at 8:37 as his shot trickled past Gibl.

Ben Thomson wrapped up the scoring with his 2nd of the series at 14:57.

The win was all the more impressive with the Troops missing two star players and another seriously ill.

The team’s second-leading scorer going into the game, Alex Henriksson has what is called a lower body injury, while it’s speculated skilled left winger Zach Bratina may have a mild concussion.

In addition, defenceman Brenden Miller fought off a serious flu bug to play. Butler had asked what his young star wanted to do.

“He told me he wanted to find a way to play” said Butler.

The game was a bounce back effort for goalie Jake Smith, who allowed seven goals in a loss to Barrie on Thursday, but Butler attributed most of the goals to power plays. Fans weren’t kind to Barrie goalie Dan Gibl, doing a slow-chant of his name and singing “Hey Hey Goodbye” after he allowed a third goal.

Game six is in Barrie Sunday at 6 p.m. and a fan bus is being organized. Game seven if necessary is back here Tuesday. The Troops will play the Oshawa Generals should they win this series.

The game was another sellout….4,226 screaming fans.

Meanwhile the Guelph Storm advanced to the Western Conference final Friday. The Storm knocked off the defending champion London Knights 5-4. They will play the Erie Otters in the Western Conference final.

 

 


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Jeff Turl

About the Author: Jeff Turl

Jeff is a veteran of the news biz. He's spent a lengthy career in TV, radio, print and online, covering both news and sports. He enjoys free time riding motorcycles and spoiling grandchildren.
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