The North Bay Battalion kicked off their postseason with Game 1 against the Kingston Frontenacs Friday evening. The Troops finished the regular season with a 30-27-7-3 for 70 points, whereas the Fronts finished with a 36-22-6-3 record, good for 81 points.
However, the underdog North Bay squad drew first blood in the series with a 5-2 victory over the Frontenacs.
North Bay came into the series as the proverbial underdogs as they boast no NHL draft picks, whereas Kingston boasts several. Despite the fact, the Battalion, in both iterations of the team (Brampton/North Bay) has never lost a playoff series to the Frontenacs, including sweeping Kingston in the last meeting in 2014/15.
All the pressure and early chances in the game went in the Troops favour, with Kingston running ragged in their own zone. Because of the pressure, by the midway point of the period, Luke Burghardt got around the Frontenacs and potted his first of the playoffs past Jeremy Helvig to give the Battalion a 1-0 lead.
Shortly after the goal, Kingston tried to gain momentum with North Bay serving two penalties in a row. Even without two of their best penalty killers in Riley Bruce and Jake Henderson, the Battalion managed to kill them off to keep momentum on their side.
Later in the first, Cliff Pu rushed in during four on four play, put the puck behind Christian Propp, but it did not cross the line. However, there was a lengthy goal review resulting in a no-goal call.
Kingston seemed to come alive shortly after and Jason Robertson, the Frontenacs leading regular-season scorer, tied the game up at 1 on the powerplay.
Twenty-six seconds into the second period, Adam Thilander threw the puck on net and Luke Burghardt tipped it past Helvig, giving the Battalion a 2-1 lead.
The momentum continued for the Troops later in the period as Nick King picked up a Brad Chenier rebound, and sniped it into the Frontenacs end to give them a 3-1 win.
In the first half of the third, in a play that eerily reminded fans of the Nick King goal, Eemeli Rasanen shot a Linus Nyman rebound over Propp’s shoulder to put the Frontenacs within 1 goal, 3-2 the Battalion still held the lead.
Whatever momentum Kingston gained was snuffed out shortly afterward as Jake Henderson beat out an icing call, set up shop in front of Helvig and gave the Troops another two-goal lead. 4-2 Battalion with four minutes in the third.
With two minutes remaining in the game and with Helvig pulled for an extra attacker, Justin Brazeau gave North Bay a 5-2 lead with an empty net goal and his first career playoff goal.
Game 2 goes Sunday in Kingston at 6. You can listen live on Country 600 CKAT, or watch on YourTV North Bay.
