Oshawa rallies, takes opener
OSHAWA, Ont. — Stuart Rolofs scored two goals to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 4-2 comeback victory Friday night over the North Bay Battalion in Ontario Hockey League playoff action, giving the Generals the opener of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Championship Series.
Connor Lockhart had an empty-net goal and an assist, and Luca Marrelli provided the winner for top-seeded Oshawa, while goaltender Jacob Oster contributed 24 saves before 5,967 at the Tribute Communities Centre.
Sandis Vilmanis and Dalyn Wakely scored for second-seeded North Bay, and goaltender Mike McIvor stopped 29 of 32 shots.
Defenceman Marrelli wired the puck from the right-wing boards past an off-balance McIvor at 1:54 of the third period to break a 2-2 tie after Rasmus Kumpulainen took a similar shot from the left boards. In the interim, Lockhart skated into McIvor, felling the goaltender, who was unable to get set for the shot from his left.
The goal survived a lengthy video review after Battalion coach Ryan Oulahen challenged for goaltender interference.
“Ten times out of 10 I’m going to challenge that play,” said Oulahen. “There was significant contact, and it kept McIvor from being ready for the next shot.”
McIvor left for a sixth attacker with 2:05 to play, and Lockhart, receiving the puck from Calum Ritchie on the end boards, hit the empty net at 19:18.
The Battalion seized an early 2-0 lead, sparked by Vilmanis at 3:04 of the first period. Vilmanis threaded his way through defenders and hoisted the puck behind Oster on the backhand. Bronson Ride and Jacob LeBlanc assisted on Vilmanis’s sixth goal of the playoffs. With 11 assists, Vilmanis has 17 points in 10 games to lead playoff scorers.
Wakely struck at 4:30 after Owen Van Steensel cut to the net off the left wing and Oster made a left-foot save. The rebound went to Wakely for the conversion and his league-leading 12th goal. Jacob Therrien had the second assist.
Rolofs responded at 16:58, just 13 seconds into a two-man advantage scheduled for 1:35. McIvor couldn’t control the puck after Ritchie’s initial shot, and Rolofs found the disc at the left post behind the goaltender, knocking it home. Beckett Sennecke also assisted.
McIvor foiled Kumpulainen in alone at 6:04, and Ethan Procyszyn had Oster beaten only to have the puck roll just wide of the right post on a break-in at 11:00.
Rolofs tied it with his third goal at 6:05 of the middle period after a neutral-zone turnover. Lockhart sent Rolofs up the middle, where he split the defence and went in alone on McIvor.
A run of seven minor penalties marked the rest of the period, with the Troops killing a two-man disadvantage lasting 41 seconds midway in the frame. Wakely and Oshawa’s Dylan Roobroeck drew roughing minors at 20:00.
Game 2 is scheduled on the same ice at 6:05 p.m. Sunday. It can be seen live in North Bay on YourTV Channels 12 and 700.
BATTALION BULLETS: The Battalion has won 21 of 41 playoff series, including 12 of 19 since relocation to North Bay in 2013 … The Battalion has a won-lost record of 103-111 in 214 postseason games, including 47-60 on the road. The Troops are 56-45 in 101 games as North Bay, with a road record of 24-26 … The Battalion is 25-17 in the first game of a playoff series, including 8-13 on the road … In 43 playoff games, Wakely has 18 goals and 11 assists for 29 points, one more than Matt Duchene and 14th in franchise history. Wakely’s 18 goals are tied with Barclay Goodrow for sixth all-time … In 43 games, Van Steensel has 12 goals and 18 assists for 30 points, tied with Luch Aquino and Kyle McDonald for 11th place in franchise annals. Van Steensel’s 18 assists are eighth all-time … The Battalion went 0-for-3 on the power play. Oshawa was 1-for-6 … The Troops bused to Oshawa late Thursday and are to spend the weekend … Opening lines featured Wakely centring left winger Van Steensel and right winger Therrien, Procyszyn pivoting left winger Justin Ertel and right winger Vilmanis and Brice Cooke centring left winger Ihnat Pazii and right winger Andrew LeBlanc. Dylan Richter centred left winger Stef Forgione and right winger Lirim Amidovski … The Battalion was without Dom DiVincentiis, Brayden Turley, Trevor McDowell, Anthony Romani, Nolan Laird and Liam Arnsby, who completed a six-game suspension … Charlie Larocque again backed up McIvor … Darcy Burchell and Joe Monette were the referees.
