Playoff Fast Five: Kingston at North Bay – RD1 GM5

The Kingston Frontenacs are facing a critical moment where victory is imperative to keep their playoff hopes alive in the best-of-seven series against the North Bay Battalion. Currently trailing 3-1, the Black and Gold must demonstrate their grit and determination to prolong the series. Game 5 is set to commence at 7:00 PM at the North Bay Memorial Gardens. With their postseason fate hanging in the balance, fans can anticipate the Frontenacs to unleash their energy and play with a sense of urgency as they strive to mount a comeback.

 

Series (NB leads 3-1):

Game 1: Thurs., March 28 – Kingston at North Bay, 7:00pm: NB won 4-2

Game 2: Sat., March 30 – Kingston at North Bay, 7:00pm: NB won 7-3

Game 3: Mon., April 1 – North Bay at Kingston, 7:00pm – KGN won 4-1

Game 4: Wed., April 3 – North Bay at Kingston, 7:00pm – NB won 5-4

Game 5: Fri., April 5 – Kingston at North Bay, 7:00pm

Game 6: Sun., April 7 – North Bay at Kingston, 2:00pm*

Game 7: Tues., April 9 – Kingston at North Bay, 7:00pm*

* If Necessary

 

Tune-In:

Fans have the opportunity to tune in to each game in real-time through Fronts Radio, featuring Kingston’s Pure Country 99 as its driving force. The renowned play-by-play announcer, Jim Gilchrist, will be narrating the games, both home and away.

Listen Live (Streaming): Pure Country 99 https://chl.ca/ohl-frontenacs/fronts-radio-streaming-live-on-pure-country-99/

Watch: YourTV Kingston | https://watch.chl.ca/ (subscription needed)

 

 

Five storylines in tonight’s game:

 

Lasting Impression

With tonight’s game being a must-win, it presents a significant opportunity for players on both teams to leave a lasting impression on scouts in attendance. For those aspiring to hear their names called in the NHL draft this upcoming summer or aiming to transition to professional hockey next season, showcasing your performance in high-intensity, pressure-filled moments will underscore the type of player you can become at the next level.

 

Strong Start

Through the first 4 games of the series, the team that establishes dominance early has consistently emerged victorious. This trend underscores the significance of entering the game prepared and the pivotal impact of scoring the initial goal, particularly in the playoffs. North Bay has demonstrated a perfect record of 3-0-0-0 when leading after the first period, a feat achieved in games 1, 2, and 4. Conversely, Kingston boasts a 1-0-0-0 record in such situations, propelled by a commanding 3-goal opening frame in Game 3.

 

Bounce Back Performance

The Kingston Frontenacs have heavily leaned on Mason Vaccari throughout the season, and they’ll be counting on him to deliver a strong performance tonight. Mason showcased his prowess in Games 1 and 3, enabling the Frontenacs to stay competitive. Despite a rough beginning in Game 4, Mason regrouped admirably, conceding just one goal in the last 39 minutes of play. With the team’s sights set on another victory on home turf, the Frontenacs will rely on Mason’s sharp focus and skill between the pipes.

 

Players to Watch: Kingston

Facing a must-win situation, the Kingston Frontenacs are looking towards their seasoned leaders to lead the charge. Tonight’s game hinges on the performances of team captain Paul Ludwinski and veteran players Jacob Holmes, Jax Dubios, and Roman Schmidt, who must step up and set the tone for the team. Despite trailing 3-1 in the series, the Frontenacs possess the talent necessary to stage a comeback and secure advancement to the second round. Embracing a one-shift-at-a-time mentality, the leadership core and the entire Kingston Frontenacs roster will need to execute flawlessly to turn this aspiration into reality.

 

Player to Watch: North Bay

It remains uncertain whether North Bay Battalion’s starting goaltender, Dom DiVincentiis, will return to the lineup tonight following his injury in game one. In his potential absence, the spotlight could shift to Mike McIvor to step in. Through four games, McIvor boasts a 2-1-0-0 record with a 3.31 goals against average and a 0.864 save percentage. McIvor has displayed commendable performance, effectively keeping his Troops competitive in each matchup. However, the onus falls on the Kingston Frontenacs to apply relentless pressure on McIvor to enhance their prospects of extending the series.