Brent Moran did everything he could, but the North Bay Battalion, absent the contributions of regulars Cam Dineen, Riley Bruce, Brett McKenzie and Justin Brazeau, who are attending NHL training camps, dropped a 3-1 opening night decision to the Niagara IceDogs at Memorial Gardens.
Just over two minutes in, new Battalion starter Brent Moran made a big pad save to keep the game scoreless. Just four minutes later, as the teams got over their early-season jitters, Moran dropped into the splits and gloved a sure goal. Soon after, a bounce off the post, saw the puck sitting on the goal line, and the veteran netminder forced to make another reaction save.
The overage netminder's presence seemed to calm the Battalion, as the passing became a little crisper after the initial IceDogs barrage. A Kyle Potts foray to the net necessitated a solid save by IceDogs goalie Colton Incze. Still, the Battalion were outshot 10-4 just over halfway through the first period.
A major penalty for charging (and a game misconduct) on a hit by Nick Pastorius on Battalion defenceman Mark Shoemaker drew the ire of Brad Chenier, who came to his teammate's defence. Shoemaker eventually skated off under his own power.
The ensuing five-minute advantage yielded nothing but a few shots steered wide by the locals. The Ice Dogs were clearly the superior team in the first, outshooting the Battalion 14-7, an advantage that was more impressive considering they killed off the major to Pastorious.
After a goalless first, the two teams came out with a little more jump to start the second period. Battalion forward Max Kislinger whistled a shot from the high slot, but Incze was equal to the task.
At 2:37 of the second, the Battalion got their first goal of the campaign. Steve Harland did the dirty work in front and Brad Chenier pounced on a loose puck to fire the puck home. Eric Allair assisted on the goal.
Buoyed by the early marker, goaltender Moran again stood his ground against the IceDogs attack, making two crucial saves to keep the Battalion ahead. Again, Moran was brilliant, stopping a breakaway chance by Danial Singer.
However, just a minute later, a screened Moran allowed a William Lochead point shot, tipped by Kyle Langdon to get by him to even the score at 1-1.
Just 37 seconds later, a patient toe drag and shot by Ondrej Machala led to a rebound tally by IceDogs' centre Langdon, putting the visitors ahead 2-1.
A steal along the side boards by Kyle Potts led to a quick shot by Kislinger, but Incze stood his ground to keep his team in the lead.
Battalion forward Jacob Ball blocked an IceDogs powerplay drive 12 minutes in and struggled to make it to the North Bay bench with the long change in the second period.
A rush by Zach Shankar with two minutes to go in the second, but import Daniil Vertiy could not convert the Shankar feed.
Under one minute to play, Moran again made a gorgeous save on Ondrej Machala, keeping the Troops in it. The IceDogs held a 31-23 shot advantage after two periods, and a 2-1 lead.
The Battalion started the third on the powerplay, but Vertiy took a tripping minor deep in the offensive zone, negating the man advantage 46 seconds in.
At 5:52, the IceDogs were allowed multiple whacks at a loose puck. Despite a few quick Moran saves, the visiting team pushed one over the line to augment the lead to 3-1. Matthew Philip was credited with the goal.
The Troops made some waves in the IceDogs end, but Incze denied the Battalion attack the rest of the way.
Not only did the fans not show up Friday night, according to Head Coach Stan Butler, neither did the veterans he had in the lineup. Before only 3,080 fans, a decrease of approximately 700 from last season, Butler graded his team's performance as an "F."
"The first thing you've got to do in hockey is compete. I'm not concerned about our young guys. At this level, until Christmas time, they're not going to make or break your hockey team. Our older guys tonight were disgusting," said Butler post-game.
"We've got guys on the bubble, overage guys, 18- and 19-year-olds trying to show me that they should stay here and they play like they are in a pond hockey game on the outdoor rink in Callander," said the coach matter-of-factly.
If the four players at NHL camps do not make their respective teams, they are expected to start trickling back early next week. With no game scheduled until next Friday, this was the chance for those players on the brink to impress Butler.
Some of the players may get a game or two more to show what they can do, but if things do not click, Butler says the team will explore the trade market.
In summation, a disappointed Butler likened his club's opening night showing to the failed U.S. entry at the World Cup of Hockey.
The second star of the game, Brent Moran, was the exception to Butler's criticism. The coach expressed that Moran was the team's best player on the night, keeping the Battalion close, despite being outshot 41-33.
From his vantage point, Moran saw things much more positively than his coach. Moran, traded late in the offseason from Flint said, "It's early on, and we have a lot more to give. We have a lot of veteran guys, and the young guys catch on fast. It's the first game, we're doing some fine-tuning, but there's a lot more to expect from us for the rest of the year."
The Battalion host the Kitchener Rangers next Friday at 7 p.m.
