BATTALION BEAT BULLDOGS
HAMILTON, Ontario – Max Kislinger had two goals for the North Bay Battalion (31-19-5-4) as they led from start to finish in a 6-1 win over the Hamilton Bulldogs (22-31-7-0) at the FirstOntario Centre on Saturday evening.
North Bay forward Justin Brazeau got the scoring started for the Battalion on a clean wrist shot from the slot that was originally called no-goal. After going upstairs it was ruled a goal and Brazeau had his fourth of the year. Forwards Kyle Potts and Brett Hargrave assisted on the goal at 4:52 of the first.
Thirty-six seconds later a strong Battaltion forecheck resulted in a quick Brett McKenzie pass to Kislinger who snapped it past Bulldogs starter Kaden Fulcher. Zach Shankar had the secondary assist on the goal at 5:28.
Hamilton’s Matthew Strome cut the deficit to one taking a pretty feed from Matt Luff off the rush and beating Battalion goalie Jake Smith. Ben Gleason drew the other assist at 17:55.
The Battalion answered fifty seconds after the Strome goal as Kyle Wood was left all alone at the side of the net to tap in a McKenzie pass from the corner. Wood’s eighth of the year also saw an assist from goaltender Smith at 18:54.
After a scoreless second period, Battalion forward Kislinger put the Battalion ahead 4-1 banging home the rebound off a Steve Harland shot. Defenceman Cam Dineen registered a helper at 3:07.
Defenceman Brady Lyle put the Battalion in front 5-1 with his first goal of the year. A seeing eye shot from the point eluded Fulcher and drew an assist from McKenzie. The power-play goal came at 7:05.
Hargrave with his ninth of the year on a bang-bang play out front finished off the scoring for North Bay. Lyle had an assist on the power-play goal at 17:15 of the third.
Fulcher made 17 saves in the loss for the Bulldogs, while Smith stopped 26 for the Battalion in the win.
Hamilton went 0-for-2 on the power-play, while North Bay went 2-for-3 with the man advantage.
3 Stars
1-Brett McKenzie (3A)
2-Jake Smith (26 saves)
3-Max Kislinger (2G)
Dan Lawrie Premium Player of the Game (Hardest Working Player): Matthew Strome
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