OSHAWA, ON - The Battalion coaching staff has preached to stay out of the penalty box, but on this night it really wasn't a bad thing.
The Troops netted 2 shorthanded markers and created at least 2 other shorthanded breakaways as they snatched game 2 from the Oshawa Generals 5-2 Sunday night in Oshawa.
Captain Barclay Goodrow scored 3 times and added 1 assist while defenceman Brenden Miller chipped in with 1 goal and 2 assists in the win as the Battalion take a 2-0 series lead in the Best-of-Seven OHL Eastern Conference Final Series.
The Battalion, known for being a conservative tight checking team, took advantage of some huge turnovers which led to a pair of shorthanded tallies on 2 on 1's that took the wind out of the Generals sails on this night.
"I don't know what it is, we work hard and force turnovers, I could have had a few more but Altshuller is a good goalie and made some big saves," said Goodrow during the post game press conference.
"We take pride in the penalty kill, and somehow we get scoring chances and we take dvantage of them as much as possible.
"Our guys work hard to get those chances."
The stoic Battalion head coach was obviously pleased with the result.
"We capitalized on our chances, some bounces went our way and I think in hockey you make your bounces and I think we did that today," said Butler during the post game press conference. "We watch a lot of video on the Gens PP and sometimes you pressure in certain situations and we took advantage of it."
Generals head coach DJ Smith was pleased with the start, but not impressed with the way his high powered offense managed the power play in game 2.
"We had a lot of chances ealry and special teams were the difference," said Smith in the post game press conference.
"Our power play gave up the shorties and allowed a few too many chances and that was the difference."
Despite only 1 goal in 60 minutes in game 1, the goal scoring was fast and furious early on.
Only 1:20 in, Brenden Miller fed Barclay Goodrow down the left wing and Goodrow snuck one past Altshuller to give the Troops the early 1-0 lead.
That lead was short lived as the Generals power play connected as Stephen Desrocher's point shot was scooped up by Dylan Smoskowitz, who slipped the rebound past Smith at 5:34 to even the score.
Late in the 1st, with Marcus McIvor in the box, Barclay Goodrow got his first shorthanded breakaway but he missed the net.
But not long after that, on the same PK, Goodrow and Paul come in and Goodrow made a nice pass to Nick Paul who went backhand over the pad of Altshuller to give the Troops a 2-1 lead at 19:13 of the first period.
Then, early in the second period with Nick Paul off for holding, Goodrow created another shorthanded breakaway but this time tried to go 5-hole on Altshuller who shut the door.
The Troops were even strength but Kyle Wood, intercepted a neutral zone pass and chipped the puck up to partner Brenden Miller who walked in from just inside the blue line and wired a shot "bar down" and past Altshuller to make it 3-1 at 7:59.
Just about 10 seconds later, the Gens lost their composure as captain Josh Brown was called for a slew foot and handed a 5-minute major which comes along with a 1-game suspension.
The Battalion were unable to score on the 5-minute major, but they were really just waiting for the right time to add to their lead.
That of course, would be when shorthanded.
The Battalion added their second shorthanded tally of the game at 18:42 as Matthew Santos made a beautiful cross ice pass to Goodrow who beat the sliding Altshuller and it was 4-1 Troops after 2.
The Battalion's stiffling defence limited the Generals chances in the final frame. However, with the net empty Stephen Desrocher backhanded a shot past Smith to make it 4-2 with 2:11 left on the clock.
Goodrow iced the game and finished the hat trick in the final minute as he chased down a long clearing shot by Dylan Blujus and chipped the puck into the empty cage to make it 5-2.
The Battalion finish outshooting the Gens 29-23 on the night and limited the Generals to a mere 3 shots in the final period.
Game 3 is set for Tuesday, April 22nd where North Bayites are encouraged - even by Mayor Al McDonald - to wear Green to Game 3.
Game 4 will take place on Wednesday at the Gardens.
