SmartStop Post-Game Recap – A Hard Fought Battle
The Steelheads fought hard to get back in the win column but came up just short of the W.
First Period
The Steelheads were looking for a win in their Friday match-up against the North Bay Battalion. The Trout came out flying, registering six shots in the first four minutes of the game. It was on that sixth shot that the Steelheads’ struck gold, as Luca DelBelBelluz ripped one past Joe Vrbetic to score his 23rd goal of the season. James Hardie and Ethan Del Mastro received the assists.
Just over a minute later, though, the Battalion struck back. While on the man-advantage, Avery Winslow grabbed the rebound off of Kyle McDonald’s shot, tying the game at one apiece.
The remainder of the period was fast-paced and exciting, as both teams racked up the shots on goal. However, Mississauga was able to outshoot North Bay to exit the frame.
Shots: 11 NB/17 MISS
Second Period
The second period started just as high-energy as the first. North Bay found themselves on a five-on-three power play early in the frame and were able to capitalize with the two-man advantage. At the 4:10 mark, Matyev Petrov received a cross-ice pass from the league’s leading point scorer, Brandon Coe, and shot it just past the left side of Joe Ranger to take the lead.
Less than two minutes after North Bay’s goal, the Steelheads got a five-on-three power play of their own. In the final seconds of the first North Bay penalty, Kasper Larsen blasted the puck past Vrbetic to tie the game at two apiece, giving #22 his 22nd point of the season. DelBelBelluz and Hardie received the assists, both earning their second points of the game.
The game’s intensity continued to increase, with several Steelheads players laying big hits and firing shots on Vrbetic. Both teams received a penalty in the last minute of the period, exiting the frame tied at two and ready for four-on-four hockey to start the third.
Shots: 10 NB/10 MISS
Third Period
The Steelheads applied lots of pressure, but Vrbetic stayed solid in net throughout the period. The Steelheads registered shot after shot on the Battalion netminder, but they could not solve him.
Just as it looked like the game would need extra time, Owen Van Steensel threw the puck behind the net, which bounced off the boards and right onto the stick of McDonald, who fired it past Ranger. Six seconds later, Coe received a penalty shot and sealed the deal to give North Bay a 4-2 lead with less than a minute to go. The Steelheads pulled Ranger to try and get something done with the empty net, but eventually lost a hard-fought battle.
Shots: 5 NB/12 MISS
Final Shots: 26 NB/39 MISS
Three Stars:
- Joe Vrbetic (37SV)
- Luca DelBelBelluz (1G, 1A)
- James Hardie (2A)
The Steelheads look to bounce back tomorrow night on the road against the Kingston Frontenacs and on Sunday against the Ottawa 67’s.
