The North Bay Battalion earned a single point in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Hamilton Bulldogs Sunday at Memorial Gardens. Benjamin Gleason scored twice for the Bulldogs and Steve Harland had one goal and two assists in a losing cause for North Bay. The game was tied four different times.
It was a Sunday full of playoff implications in the OHL. The North Bay Battalion are in a four-team race for the final three playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. After Sunday's action, the Ottawa 67's lead the group with 54 points after a 3-1 victory over the Barrie Colts Sunday. The Sudbury Wolves sit in seventh with 53 points after a 7-1 thrashing by Windsor. The Wolves have a game in hand on the other three teams vying for the final spots. The Niagara IceDogs now have 52 points after a 9-7 triumph over Erie, and the Battalion have 50 with the point earned versus Hamilton.
Peterborough, Mississauga, Oshawa, Kingston and Hamilton have secured spots in the Eastern Conference playoffs already.
The Troops were coming off a 4-1 loss Friday to the Mississauga Steelheads on the road. The Steelheads have clinched the Central Division, and barring a Peterborough collapse, will be the second seed in the playoffs. North Bay had lost their last three but gained a single point with a 4-3 OT home loss to the Barrie Colts, Thursday.
The Battalion continue to play without regulars Cam Dineen, Riley Bruce and Eric Allair on defence, and forwards Jacob Ball and Daniil Verity. Powassan Voodoos affiliated players Brett Hahkala and Bo Peltier dressed for North Bay.
The Bulldogs' second-leading scorer (and Montreal Canadiens draftee), Will Bitten notched his 20th goal, cleaning up a juicy Brent Moran rebound and lifting it over the struggling Battalion starter. Jack Hanley and Michael Cramarossa were credited with the assists on the Bitten goal.
Just past the halfway mark of the first, Hahkala got the Troops on the board, scoring his first career OHL goal as he tipped a Brady Lyle point shot past Hamilton starter Kaden Fulcher. It has been an impressive week by Hahkala, who scored a hat trick and added assist in the Voodoos' NOJHL clincher Monday night. Steve Harland drew the second assist on the 1-1 goal.
With Zach Shankar in the penalty box serving a cross-checking minor, Moran slid across to stop a sure Hamilton goal, keeping the game tied 1-1.
Shankar exited the box, and soon after he had he joined the play, he was being sent off for a checking-from-behind infraction.
Shankar had the last laugh, however, as he stepped out of the box, took a lead pass in stride, and fed the puck across to Brad Chenier. Chenier shot, recovered the rebound and beat Fulcher to give the Troops the late first-period 2-1 lead. Lyle counted his second assist of the afternoon on the goal.
Shots after one period were 12-10 for the Battalion.
The Troops lead was short-lived as Hamilton rearguard Benjamin Gleason gathered a loose puck inside the Battalion zone, beat his check with some slick stick-handling and fired a shot that beat Moran clean, tying the game 2-2.
Gleason struck again to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead. Two-thirds of Gleason's season goal output had come in less than two minutes. His second of the afternoon, and sixth of the campaign was assisted by Justin Lemcke and Niki Petti.
Like in the first, the Troops struck late in the second period as well. With 6.5 seconds to play in the second period, Max Kislinger scored his sixth of the year, taking a Steve Harland feed, breaking in on Fulcher and making no mistake to tie the game 3-3.
Shots after two periods favoured North Bay 23-21.
At 5:53 of the third, Moran made two saves, but the rebound again landed right in the path of a Bulldogs player, this time winger Zachary Jackson. Jackson's third, assisted by Connor Walters gave the visitors a 4-3 lead.
At 10:58, Daniel Walker passed to Brett McKenzie who cruised through the neutral zone. After gaining the Hamilton line, McKenzie dished to Harland who circled around the net-front traffic and beat Fulcher. The Gardens crowd erupted, and the game was tied 4-4 once more.
Moran made several key stops and the Troops pushed to win the game in regulation while also making sure not to give up the chance that would cost them at least a single point.
Ultimately, neither team could settle things in regulation and the game was headed to 3-on-3 overtime.
Shots after three periods favoured the Battalion 30-29.
McKenzie and Harland double-shifted throughout overtime and the Bulldogs had some odd-man rushes, but neither team could end the game and a shootout was needed.
McKenzie got in close on Fulcher, but the goalie closed his pads. Cramarossadeked Moran right, then left, scoring for the shootout lead.
Justin Brazeau's backhand effort was foiled by Fulcher and then Matthew Strome's low shot was turned away by the stick of Moran.
Brett Hargrave had to score to keep the Troops alive and missed high.
The Battalion host the Sudbury Wolves on a rare Wednesday game night at Memorial Gardens, puck drop is 7 p.m.
