Battalion gets jump on Toronto 3-1
TORONTO First-period goals by Luch Aquino and Ryan Oulahen provided an early surge, and the Battalion went on to a 3-1 victory over the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors on Friday night, snapping the Troops’ three-game Ontario Hockey League losing streak.rrBrock McPherson scored early in the second period for the Battalion, which improved its won-lost-tied record to 8-5-2 for 18 points and remained in first place in the Central Division by a point ahead of the Mississauga IceDogs. The Troops are second in the Eastern Conference, one point behind the Peterborough Petes.rrGoaltender Kevin Couture made 35 saves in moving his personal record to 4-2-1. With the Troops protecting the lead through a scoreless third period, Couture made big stops against Matt Halischuk in tight early, Colin Power late and Ryan Wilson on the power play in the final 1:28.rrWilson scored the lone goal for Toronto, which fell to 5-7-3, including one overtime loss, for 14 points and is fifth and last in the division. The Battalion had 31 shots on Justin Peters, who has played all but 40 minutes in the Toronto net this season.rrI was happy with our game, said Battalion coach Stan Butler. Obviously, it’s a tough rink to win in, and we had lost three in a row. Tonight was a character test for our hockey team, and I think we passed our first character test of the year.rrAquino opened the scoring at 6:09 of the first period after Dan McDonald’s pass sprang him from the neutral zone. Aquino drove down the right side and got free access to the net when Toronto defenceman Scott Lavigne fell, allowing Aquino to move to the slot and beat Peters.rrOulahen scored what proved to be the winner on the power play at 19:36, taking a cross-ice feed from Wojtek Wolski and firing from the right-wing circle for his club-leading ninth goal of the season.rrThe Battalion took a 3-0 lead on McPherson’s third of the season 34 seconds into the second period. McPherson took a pass from Wolski, cruised out of the right-wing corner to the lip of the crease and jammed the puck under the collapsing Peters.rrDefenceman Wilson got Toronto on the board at 16:32, rifling a power-play shot from above the right circle. It was Wilson’s fourth goal.rrTomas Stryncl, Graham McNabb, J.F. Houle and Scott Boomsma did not dress for the Battalion.rrToronto scratched Dale Good, Scott Lehman and Joe Rand. Overage defenceman Good was sidelined with shoulder and knee injuries, while veteran rearguard Lehman suffered a shoulder injury in a 5-3 win Thursday night at Peterborough.rrThe Battalion is back in action Saturday, visiting the Windsor Spitfires at 2 p.m.rrBATTALION NOTEBOOK: Attendance at St. Michael’s College School Arena was 984 … Two new Battalion lines debuted in the game. Howie Martin moved between left winger Wolski and right winger McPherson, and Tyler Harrison centred Luke Lynes on the left and Patrick Sweeney on the right Aquino and Toronto’s Cal Clutterbuck engaged in a first-period fight Power saw his first action of the season after suffering a broken leg in the playoffs last spring Halischuk wore a full facial shield after being crosschecked in the mouth last Sunday by Mississauga’s Daniel Carcillo. Carcillo received a 15-game suspension Friday The Battalion, which won for the first time since a 3-2 home-ice decision over the Barrie Colts on Oct. 17, was 1-for-6 on the power play, the Majors 1-for-8 … The Troops are 3-3-2 on the road, while Toronto is 2-4-3 at home It was the second meeting of the season between the clubs, after a 5-1 Battalion victory at home Oct. 11. The Battalion and Majors will meet next at the Brampton Centre on Nov. 21.r
