SmartStop Post-Game Recap – Defeating the Battalion
The Steelheads come up big in an exciting 5-4 win against the Central Division-leading North Bay Battalion.
First Period
The Mississauga Steelheads came into tonight’s battle with the North Bay Battalion feeling hot after a 6-2 win the night before against the Niagara IceDogs. Looking to keep it going, the team did exactly that.
The Steelheads did not waste any time in getting on the scoresheet. Continuing his hot streak, Zander Veccia grabbed the pass from James Hardie right in the slot and put it past goalie Charlie Robertson. Luke Misa registered the secondary assist on Veccia’s tenth goal of the year.
Goaltender Alessio Beglieri made two massive saves as two Battalion players went on separate breakways and stayed solid to keep the puck out of the net on both occasions.
Towards the end of the period, the Steelheads found themselves down two men after Brice Cooke and Chas Sharpe were sent to the box. On the ensuing five-on-three, North Bay’s Matyev Petrov scored to tie up the game at one a piece.
Shots on Goal – 10 NB/7 MISS
Second Period
The second frame started with a bang, as Veccia repeated exactly what he did in the first. Just 19 seconds into the second, the winger scored his second goal of the night and eleventh of the season. The goal was once again assisted by Hardie and Misa.
Only a minute and a half later, the Steelheads found themselves short-handed, but it was no problem for Misa. The speedy centreman went on an odd-man rush with Hardie and Chas Sharpe, and as Hardie passed him the puck, Misa made no mistake in putting it past Robertson. The goal marks Misa’s first career short-handed goal.
Keeping the excitement going early on, Mississauga struck again at the 3:46 mark. Picking up the puck on a turnover in the Steelheads’ zone, Hardie skated with it before sending it long to Lucas Karmiris. The rookie skated in fast on the breakaway and put in right in the back of the net to go up 4-1. With his fourth primary assist of the night, Hardie tied his career-high single game assists, which he set the night before in Niagara.
It would not be easy to keep the Central Division-leading Battalion off the board, and the opposition battled back hard. Using special teams to their advantage, North Bay’s Kyle McDonald cut the lead in half on the power play 12:36 into the period. Five minutes later on yet another five-on-three, Ty Nelson scored a goal to bring the Battalion within one.
While the teams continued to exchange chances throughout the rest of the period, the Steelheads held onto the lead to finish the frame 4-3.
Shots on Goal – 13 NB/9 MISS
Third Period
They say the third time’s a charm, and Veccia took it to heart. With the Steelheads on a power play in the first minute of the period, the sophomore forward struck again early on, scoring his first career hat trick to put his team up 5-3. Sharpe and Charlie Callaghan earned the assists on Veccia’s fifth goal in the last two games.
With 4:15 remaining in the period, the Battalion kept the battle going as Pasquale Zito scored to make it 5-4. Shortly afterwards, North Bay pulled their goalie for the extra attacker and while they pushed hard, the Steelheads worked harder to win the game 5-4.
Shots on Goal – 13 NB/10 MISS
Total Shots – 32 NB/30 MISS
Three Stars:
- Zander Veccia (3G)
- James Hardie (4A)
- Luke Misa (1G, 1A)
Defeating their divisional rivals, Mississauga secured another two points. The Steelheads will be back at home this Sunday for their second game of the weekend against the Niagara IceDogs. Click here to purchase your tickets!
