Battalion stops skids with 4-1 victory
BRAMPTON, Ont. – The Brampton Battalion said goodbye to a pair of losing streaks Sunday.
Ian Watters scored two goals to pace the Battalion to a 4-1 Ontario Hockey League victory over the Barrie Colts, snapping a five-game losing skid with the Troops’ first win since a 3-1 road decision Oct. 22 over the Ottawa 67’s. In addition, the Battalion won at home for the first time in five games dating to a 5-1 verdict Oct. 14 over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
Domenic Alberga contributed one goal and one assist and Philip Lane also scored for the home side, which improved its won-lost-extended record to 8-6-3 for 19 points, third in the Central Division. Barclay Goodrow earned two assists, while goaltender Jacob Riley made 34 saves.
Trent Hawke scored for Barrie, 4-12-1 for nine points, fifth and last in the division. Goaltender Peter Di Salvo faced 39 shots.
“We really needed this,” said Battalion coach Stan Butler. “We’ve had some bad luck at home, losing some shootouts and games in which we’d played pretty well. It was important for us to get a win in a division game like this.”
Butler praised Riley’s performance.
“Jacob was great today. That’s the kind of goaltending you need. It’s the difference between winning and losing in this league.”
Said Riley: “We played well up front, and that was important for us. When the guys are clearing out the front of the net and letting me see the shots, it makes it pretty easy.”
Watters leads the team in goals and points with 11 and 16 respectively.
“Ian has been one of our most consistent players this season,” noted Butler. “It’s good for him to see all his hard work paying off.”
Hawke opened the scoring at 1:18 of the first period, beating Riley from deep in the left-wing circle after Dylan Blujus turned the puck over, but Watters tied it at 10:48 when he snapped a pass from Andreas Tsogkas off Di Salvo’s left pad.
Alberga scored what proved to be the winner at 16:03, burying a cross-ice feed from Michael Santini at the left post. The goal, on which Jordan Auld also drew an assist, was Alberga’s third of the season.
Lane made it 3-1 at 9:09 of the second period. Stephon Thorne fired a shot from the left circle that Di Salvo kicked directly to the onrushing Lane, who slid the puck home for his fifth goal.
The Battalion outshot Barrie 18-12 in the period, with key saves required of both goalies. Riley denied Taylor Carnevale on a breakaway in the ninth minute and snared a shot from Hawke, alone in front, in the final seconds. Di Salvo sprawled to foil Sean Jones on a counterclockwise wraparound at the left post with the Troops on the power play in the 16th minute.
“Carnevale looked for the shot, and I kind of anticipated it,” said Riley. “Luckily, I got my pad on it. I think Hawke had more time than he thought he did. I just tried to get out as far as I could.”
Watters scored at 16:53 of the third period. Alberga outdueled Mackenzie Braid for the puck and, falling to the ice, delivered the disc to Watters, who put it over Di Salvo’s left arm.
Braid was involved in a controversial play in the final minute when he appeared to check Sam Carrick to the head. Lane took exception and engaged Braid in a fight. Lane received an instigating minor, fighting major and game misconduct because the instigation occurred in the last five minutes.
Riley remained sharp, turning aside 12 shots, including several while the Colts enjoyed two power plays.
Battalion scratches were Cameron Wind, Jonathan Johansson and Matt MacLeod. Barrie scratched Dalton Prout, Kyle Clifford, Mitchell Bursey, Aaron Taylor and Zach Hall.
The Battalion visits the Kitchener Rangers at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
BATTALION NOTEBOOK: The crowd of 1,815 was the second-largest of the season, trailing the 2,967 for a 5-1 loss to the Erie Otters in the season opener Sept. 24 … The Battalion went 0-for-2 on the power play. Barrie was 0-for-6 … The Troops are 4-3-3 at home. Barrie is 2-7-0 on the road … Opening line combinations included Carrick centring left winger Jones and right winger Scott Tanski, Craig Moore pivoting left winger Thorne and right winger Lane and Tsogkas centring left winger Watters and Goodrow on right wing. Alberga centred left winger Alex O’Neil and right winger Santini … Wind lost a second game to a concussion … Johansson missed two games while with Sweden’s national junior team for four games against Massachusetts universities. Johansson played the first two games but sat out the others because of illness. He returned Saturday night but was unable to dress for the Troops for a third straight game … Moore received attention from trainer Binne Brouwer after taking a puck to the head in the third period. Moore played another shift before leaving with 2:19 left … Alberga’s first two goals of the season came in a 9-3 Battalion romp at Barrie on Sept. 30 … Auld was recognized as the team’s scholastic player of the month for October … Barrie’s Darren Archibald saw the end of a nine-game points streak in which he had six goals and seven assists for 13 points … Prout sat out after receiving a match penalty for an attempt to injure in a 5-1 road win Friday night over the Kingston Frontenacs … Clifford remains with the National Hockey League’s Los Angeles Kings, while Hall hasn’t played since suffering a wrist injury in the teams’ Sept. 30 meeting … The Battalion hosts Barrie on Nov. 28 in the third of six meetings.
