The goals just kept on coming. After scoring only two goals total on a weekend road trip to Ottawa and Kingston, the floodgates opened up Thursdaynight at Memorial Gardens.
A five-goal outburst in the third period clinched a spirited 8-5 Battalion win over the 67's. The game was tied at four different times, but a four-assist night by Daniil Verity, and two-goal games by Zach Poirier and Brett Hargrave paced the home team to one of their best home results of the season.
North Bay Battalion Head Coach Stan Butler has talked repeatedly this season about his team needing to be prepared, and competing at a higher level.
It was probably not how Butler drew it up, but an undisciplined start for the home team in this one led to some offence. After 46 seconds, the Battalion were penalized for too-many-men on the ice, giving the 67's an early powerplay opportunity.
Just after the initial penalty expired, Brett McKenzie took a cross-checking minor. Kyle Potts pounced on a broken play deep in the 67's zone and, shorthanded, the puck found its way into the Ottawa net. The referee did not signal a goal, but after video review, the Troops had their 1-0 lead.
Brad Chenier took another minor penalty, this one for roughing, and the Battalion again went on the offensive down a man. Brett McKenzie found himself in all alone on 67's starter Leo Lazarev, but the goaltender stopped his high wrister, as well as the rebound.
Just after Chenier stepped on the ice, Ottawa had their best chance of the night. A quick one-timer from the slot by Travis Barron was smothered by Brent Moran.
An uncharacteristic soft goal allowed at 13:57 by Moran on a shot from the high slot from Ottawa's Sasha Chmelevski tied the game 1-1.
With two minutes to go, Potts had another glorious chance, driving to the net with a head of steam, only to see Lazarev make a big stop.
Shots on goal were even at 13-13 after the first period.
Another video review, this time on a 67's push to the net, confirmed a good goal for Ottawa, making the score 2-1 just 1:51 into the second. Patrick White was credited with the contested goal, that left Moran jawing with the referee.
At 5:50 of the second, Hargrave evened things up with a fluttering shot from the slot that struck Ottawa defenceman Kevin Bahl's leg and found its way into the back of the night. Assists on the goal went to Verity and Zach Shankar.
The penalties eventually took their toll, as did poor defensive zone coverage.
On a quick Chmelevski pass from the corner, Artur Tyanulin tipped in a shot past a helpless Moran. Just 1:10 later, the 67's struck again, making it 4-2 for the visitors. Chase Campbell scored for Ottawa.
Just as the game seemed to be slipping away, the Battalion struck with less than two minutes to play in the second. A loose puck was banged home by Poirier through a pile-up of bodies in front of a prone Lazarev, cutting the lead to one. Assists on the goal went to Verity and Cam Dineen.
Shorthanded again, with the seconds ticking down, the Troops went in 2-on-0, McKenzie ready to tap in the tying goal, but Lazarev slid his right pad over and made the remarkable save.
Shots on goal favoured Ottawa 28-23 after two periods.
The Troops tied things up again 3:34 into the third, McKenzie potting his eighth on a beauty feed from Steve Harland.
The energy inside the old Gardens reached a fever pitch 1:12 after the McKenzie goal as Poirier scored his second of the night, giving the Troops a 5-4 lead.
"The third period was good, the first period was awful, and the second period was OK. That's definitely something we have to be better at, and the last thing you want as a coach is not knowing what you're going to get from your players. We're still there a little bit," said Butler following the game.
The 67's tied up the back-and-forth affair on a Ben Fanjoy goal, but the Gardens erupted, as loud as it's been since last season's playoffs, as the Battalion, on goals by Adam Thilander (his first OHL marker) and Hargrave put the Troops ahead 7-5.
The visitors then began a parade to the penalty box of their own, leading to Adam McMaster scoring his first career goal at 11:58 to make the final 8-5, the fans cheering on every bit of Battalion good fortune.
"Sometimes the reason you get powerplays is you're playing hard and going hard to the net, it forces the other team to take penalties," said Butler post-game.
On the first career goals by Thilander and McMaster, Butler said "they are both skill players, it helps build their confidence. We can tell kids 'you're going to be fine,' all we want, but success equals results."
Thilander was visibly relieved to get the first one out of the way. He said he did feel some pressure, as an offensive-minded defenceman to produce more than he has through 10 games.
"It's a great feeling. I like to score goals, that's a part of my game. I had a tough start, but it feels better now," said Thilander.
Shots on goal were 39-35, North Bay.
The three stars, all from the Battalion were Poirier, Hargrave and Verity.
The Troops (5-5-0-0) are next in action Friday at 7:30 p.m. as they visit the Guelph Storm (3-6-0-1).
