FRONTS BLAST BATALLION 6-0
The Kingston Frontenacs are bringing March madness to new heights in the Ontario Hockey League.
The Frontenacs have won six straight in March, the latest a 6-0 thumping of potential playoff opponent North Bay Battalion on Saturday night before 4,020 fans at the Rogers K-Rock Centre.
The victory — with a Sam Bennett hat trick leading the way and Lucus Peressini kicking in with a franchise record fifth shutout of the season — clinched at least a sixth-place finish in the Eastern Conference.
The Frontenacs’ most likely playoff opponents appear to be either North Bay or the Ottawa 67’s.
Who it ends up being is not something about which the Frontenacs are fretting.
“It don’t think it matters who we are playing. We are just going to play our game every game and it’s working right now,” Bennett said.
“I don’t think we are too worried about (the playoff matchup). We are ready for any team. We showed that tonight.”
The Bennett, Lawson Crouse, Spencer Watson line was dominant for Kingston.
Bennett scored three — his third OHL hat trick — and had an assist. Crouse had a goal and two assists and Watson two helpers.
Ryan Verbeek and Conor McGlynn added the other goals.
Peressini made 26 saves and set up the shutout when he stopped Miles Liberati on a third-period penalty shot.
“That’s a big compliment for him to set a new record. I’m proud of him. I’m proud of our team as well,” head coach Paul McFarland said.
“I give the players 100% credit for how we played away from the puck. That’s a great team effort.”
The Bennett line had the fans buzzing with its play.
“That line was great all night. For me, the more impressive thing was the way they played away from the puck,” McFarland said.
“It was a good job by everybody. We got contributions from a lot of guys. We’ve just got to keep pushing here. We can’t be satisfied.”
Bennett’s third goal came late in the second period. It was a good example of his dogged determination and ability to create a scoring chance out of nothing. He put some pressure on the North Bay defence, knocked down a pass out and wheeled and fired almost simultaneously to beat goaltender Jake Smith low.
The Bennett goal caused fans to toss more than a dozen hats onto the ice surface in celebration of the hat trick.
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