Battalion defenceman Kyle Wood celebrates his 2nd goal of the night in Sault Ste. Marie. PHOTO COURTESY KENNETH ARMSTONG/SOOTODAY.COM.
SAULT STE. MARIE, ON - Justin Bailey scored the game winner in the 5th round of the shootout to give the hometown Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds a 4-3 win over the North Bay Battalion on Friday night at the Essar Centre.
Bailey, stormed down the left wing and slipped a quick shot over the glove hand of Jake Smith for the winner.
Battalion forward Nick Moutrey had a chance to extend the shootout, but the power forward's backhand was stopped by the outstretched glove of Greyhounds goalie Brandon Halverson to salvage the victory.
The shootout loss spoiled a 3-goal performance by Battalion defenceman Kyle Wood, who had 2 power play goals and the tying marker with less than 4 minutes left in regulation.
After a scoreless first period, the 2 teams exchanged 4 goals in the middle frame and then the two clubs swapped goals in the final 5 minutes of regulation to force OT and then the shootout.
"It was a good hockey game, I mean it was a game that could have gone either way," said Butler about the game that the Western Conference leading Hounds outshot them 42-29 through regulation and overtime.
"In the shootout we had 2 chances to win. They've got a great hockey team, everybody knows that but just like last year we find a way to be competitive with the better teams in the league. Things were encouraging, I don't know if you are ever happy when you lose quite frankly but in fairness it was Nick Moutrey's first game back and I think he will get better and I think once he gets more comfortable with his line mates. All our lines tonight were new because Nick came back so the guys have to get used to each other," added Butler after the game.
Early in the game, the Battalion caused fits for the Greyhounds, who struggled with the Battalion forecheck.
The best Battalion chance early was a drop pass by Soo native Michael Amadio as Brenden Miller blasted the drop pass from the slot that went wide past Hounds netminder, who was way out of the net challenging the high scoring defenceman.
That was the best chance for the Troops in a tight checking opening period.
With the Greyhounds Nick Ritchie serving a too many men on the ice penalty, the Battalion worked the puck down to Kyle Wood who blasted a one-timer from his off-wing side past Brandon Halverson at 4:42 of the middle frame to give the Battalion the 1-0 lead. Miller and Amadio were credited with the assists on Wood's 13th goal of the season.
However, less than a minute later, the Greyhounds offensive defenceman Anthony DeAngelo slipped into the slot, grabbed the loose puck in the front of the Battalion cage and beat Smith to even the game 1-1.
Then at 12:36 Hounds forward Blake Speers created a turnover in the neutral zone. That play created a 2 on 1 for the Hounds and Speers made a nifty cross crease pass to Nick Ritchie who slipped it past Jake Smith to give the homeside a 2-1 lead.
Kyle Wood responded on a 5 on 3 power play as he made no mistake from the slot to tie the game at 2-2. Nick Paul and Michael Amadio drew the Hounds defenders down low and the crafty Soo forward fed the nice pass to the pinching defender who found the mesh at 15:05.
Around the 9 minute mark of the third period, Connor Boland looked to give the Hounds the lead again, however, Michael Bunting appeared to knock over Jake Smith and due to intentional contact, the goal was called off much to the disappointment of the Greyhounds fans as it remained 2-2.
With less than 7 minutes in regulation, Blake Speers picked up another turnover in the neutral zone and got away a quick shot on Jake Smith but the Battalion netminder made a great save to keep things tied.
Tim Gettinger gave the Hounds the lead again with just less than 6 minutes left in the 3rd period. Gettinger fired home his 8th of the campaign off big rebound left by Jake Smith courtesy of the original low shot by Justin Bailey at 14:28.
The Battalion responded as Ryan Kujawinski created a turnover behind the Hounds cage. He took the puck away from DeAngelo and Hounds goalie Brandon Halverson at the side of the net and slipped a quick pass to Kyle Wood who scored his 3rd of the game, 15th of the season, to tie things up 3-3 at 16:28.
With about 1:30 into the overtime period, Nick Paul sent a nice feed in front to Amadio, as Halverson made the key stop, then about a minute after that Jake Smith robbed Sergey Tolchinsky as he lost his goal stick on a poke check on Jared McCann and Smith got a piece of the Tolchinsky shot on the rebound.
In the final minute of overtime, Nick Ritchie one timed a shot on the left wing, but Smith made the impressive blocker save to keep it at 3-3.
Shootout summary
Hounds 1st shooter - Sergey Tolchinsky, stickhandled with speed, slowed down and Smith made the easy save with the stick.
Battalion 1st shooter - Ryan Kujawinski came in on the left side, and his shot went through Halverson's legs and past the far post.
Hounds 2nd shooter - Blake Speers went in, deked to his right and went upstairs on Smith. GOAL
Battalion 2nd shooter - Soo native Michael Amadio faked a shot and then took the shot upstairs over the glove of Halverson for a goal. GOAL
Hounds 3rd shooter - Jared McCann came in and Smith, poke checked the puck away
Battalion 3rd shooter - Nick Paul came in slow, and went backhand and Halverson shut the door
Hounds 4th shooter - Nick Ritchie, came in with a quick release stopped by Smith.
Battalion 4th shooter - Kyle Wood chance to end it, fired a shot 5-hole stopped by Halverson.
Hounds 5th shooter - Justin Bailey, came down left side with speed and beat Smith on the glove side. GOAL
Battalion 5h shooter - Nick Moutrey tried to extend it, he went backhand and Halverson got the glove on it for the Hounds win.
