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Battalion dominate Gens in Conference Final opener

Zach Bratina in all alone on Generals netminder and North Bay native Ken Appleby. PHOTO COURTESY SEAN RYAN. OSHAWA, ON - It may not have been the start the Battalion wanted but the finish was pretty darn good.

Zach Bratina in all alone on Generals netminder and North Bay native Ken Appleby.  PHOTO COURTESY SEAN RYAN.

OSHAWA, ON - It may not have been the start the Battalion wanted but the finish was pretty darn good.

The Battalion scored six unanswered goals in the second and third periods as they humbled the hometown Oshawa Generals 6-1 in game one of the OHL Eastern Conference final. 

“We knew coming in they would want revenge and use their big bodies but we knew if we stuck to our game plan and everyone stuck to their game plan and everyone knew their role we were going to come away with the victory and that’s what we did,” said Battalion forward Nick Paul to OHL Tonight, as the Senators prospect netted a key shorthanded goal in the second period.   

“Every single line was amazing tonight I think we had goals from all the lines so when we are playing with 4 lines and all our defence the results show what happens.” 

Battalion Head Coach Stan Butler was pleased with the start but downplayed that the game was a blowout, noting it was much closer than the score dictated.  

“I was happy with our guys, I thought we got off to a rocky start when we threw a couple in the stands there we were able to kill the penalties but you have to give credit to our guys, they stayed with the game plan and they worked hard and as the game progressed we found ways to score goals," said Butler during the OHL post-game press conference.  

After a Battalion sluggish start, Generals big man Mike McCarron netted his 7th goal of the playoffs picking up a rebound in the slot and backhanded it past Jake Smith to make it 1-0 midway through the first period. 

Smith struggled to coral a high shot from Bradley Latour that deflected off his catcher and right to McCarron who made no mistake.  

Chances were few and far between in the opening frame for the Troops, but Nick Paul had the best chance as he drove to the net.  Appleby made a decent save on what turned out to be almost a 1 on 2 that Paul still was able to elude his Gens defenders to get a quality shot.  

The first period ended 1-0 with the Gens outshooting the Battalion 12-8.  

“We had bus legs but got the bus legs out after the first kill (penalty),” noted Mike Amadio in an OHL Tonight first intermission interview, noting goaltender Jake Smith got two penalties in the opening frame for shooting the puck over the glass for a pair of delay of game calls. 

The Battalion rebounded in a big way with two of its best periods of hockey during this 2015 playoff run. 

The Battalion fourth line connected for North Bay as a turnover led tot he equalizer.  Mike Amadio centred a pass to a wide open Zach Poirier who fired home his first ever OHL playoff goal to even things at 1-1 at 3:55 of the second period.  

Battalion got another chance on a 2 on 1 with Mathew Santos who fed across to Paul who fanned on the shot and took a weak backhand that Appleby was able to handle easily. 

Battalion got another great chance when Zach Bratina flew down the right wing and drove to the net and Ken Appleby made a solid pad save, but Bratina drew the penalty. 

Ray Huether created another turnover as he intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and went in all alone and beat Ken Appleby as the Troops took their first lead of the series at 13:12 of the middle frame. 

The Battalion added to the lead while down two men, as Nick Paul rushed down the right side, and Cole Cassels took Paul out but he got the shot away and the rebound was deflected off Cassels and behind Appleby for a huge shorthanded tally to make it 3-1 Battalion at 17:18. 

The third period didn’t get any better for the homeside.

The Battalion made the Generals pay again as Zach Bratina picked off a pass and went all alone in on Appleby and beat him threw the legs to make it 4-1 Battalion at 2:49 of the third. 

The Battalion added to the lead again as Nick Moutrey took a nice feed in the slot from Brenden Miller to make it 5-1 and end the night for the North Bay goaltender Appleby, as Jeremy Brodeur came in to replace him.

Moutrey netted his second goal of the game as he blasted a quick shot on a short feed from Ryan Kujawinski for the 6-1 lead with less than 4 minutes left in regulation. 

Jake Smith stopped 30 shots for his 9th playoff win.  

The Battalion gave a stick raise to the loud and enthusiastic Battalion faithful that made the trek to the General Motors Centre Friday night. 

Game two is back in Oshawa on Sunday night at the General Motors Centre.  

To view highlights of the game go here:  http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/video/index/id/8f1a05bdd010f10ef518a34b99609463


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Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
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