Battalion faces Kitchener test
BRAMPTON, Ont. – The Brampton Battalion, looking to reverse recent results, completes its Ontario Hockey League regular-season schedule against teams from the Western Conference when the Kitchener Rangers visit at 2 p.m. Sunday.
The Battalion, with a won-lost-extended record of 28-21-9 for 65 points, second in the Central Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference with 10 games left to play, has lost six games against opposite-conference opponents since a 3-2 victory Dec. 28 over the host Sarnia Sting.
“Even though it’s our last game against the Western Conference, to us it’s just another game,” said goaltender Matej Machovsky, who produced 35 saves in a 3-1 road victory Friday night over the Mississauga Steelheads. “They’re a tough team and a top team on their side, so we have to be ready to play against them.”
Kitchener, which defeated the visiting Sudbury Wolves 3-2 Saturday, is 34-17-8 for 76 points, third in the Midwest Division and fourth in its conference, against which the Battalion is 7-10-2, including 0-4-2 in the most recent six games.
“They always give us a good game,” Machovsky, 19, said of the Rangers. “They have some great players on that team, so it’s going to be a great test for us in our last game with the Western Conference this season.”
Kitchener, which downed the visiting Battalion, with Machovsky in goal, 4-3 via shootout Jan. 18, is led offensively by right winger Tobias Rieder, who has 25 goals and 21 assists for 46 points in 44 games. Left winger Matt Puempel has a team-leading 29 goals in 43 games.
The Battalion posted a third straight win in the decision at Mississauga. Blake Clarke broke a 1-1 tie late in the second period, and Nicholas Foglia scored into an empty net in the third, but Machovsky was instrumental in protecting the lead through the final frame. He made 18 third-period saves, including outstanding stops against the likes of Sam Babintsev, Kristoff Kontos and Stuart Percy.
“It feels awesome to break the streak of tough contests in Mississauga,” Machovsky said after backstopping the Troops to their first win this season at the Hershey Centre in their fourth and final visit. “I’ve never felt comfortable in here, so it was great to bounce back from a tough first period for a great finish.
“It’s easier when they’re just shooting pucks at the net. When they try to make plays, it gets harder to stop, but they wanted to score and just fired the puck on net. It’s easier to get into a rhythm when you see a lot of shots.”
Since being acquired in a Dec. 1, 2010, trade with the Guelph Storm, Machovsky has gone 50-39-13 with eight shutouts, tying Patrick Killeen for the Battalion record. He ranks fourth in wins on the club’s career list, behind Bryan Pitton with 64, Killeen with 63 and Brad Topping with 61.
Machovsky is 21-15-7 this season with a 2.58 goals-against average, a .910 save percentage and two shutouts. Since returning from the World Junior Championship, in which he played for his native Czech Republic, he’s started 15 of 16 games, being relieved twice by Jake Smith.
“I’m not counting,” Machovsky said when mention was made of his 50th victory in Battalion colours. “It’s definitely nice that I got to that milestone, but I just do what I can to help the team win every night.”
