Kingston slips past Troops
Kieran Dervin scored the winning goal and added an assist while goaltender Matthew Minchak made 42 saves as the Kingston Frontenacs squeezed past the North Bay Battalion 2-1 in an Ontario Hockey League game Sunday.
Jacob Battaglia had the other goal for Kingston, which lost 5-4 via shootout at home Friday night to the Soo Greyhounds and has a won-lost-extended record of 2-1-1.
Evgeny Dubrovtsev scored for North Bay, and goaltender Jack Lisson contributed 22 saves before a crowd of 2,355 at Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens.
The Battalion, which suffered a 3-1 loss Friday night to the visiting Ottawa 67’s, is 2-2-0 after winning its first two games.
“We’ve got to find ways to score goals,” said Battalion coach Ryan Oulahen. “We’re not going to win any hockey games this year by just scoring one goal. We’ve got to find ways to produce. We talked about it. We’re generating opportunities. Once they start going in, they’re going to go in here in bunches.”
Oulahen said Kingston’s defensive setup, combined with the Troops’ attempts to find perfection, frustrated the comeback effort.
“There’s credit to the goaltender for sure. I think there’s times we’re just trying to make the perfect shot. You’ve got to get it off fast. You can’t wait and then pick your spot, or else the goalie has been able to track the puck.
“Every team defends the same way. They really bunch up the slot area there and try to front, and you’ve got to find ways to get on the inside and get that puck in your favour.”
Battaglia struck on the power play at 3:05 of the first period, going to the right lip of the crease and redirecting a shot-pass by Vann Williamson from the mid blue line. Dervin also assisted.
Russian rookie Dubrovtsev, North Bay’s first-round pick in the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft in July, netted his first OHL goal at 13:45, snapping the puck from the inner edge of the left circle on assists by Ryder Carey and Nolan Laird.
Dervin scored at 19:21, darting down the left wing toward the net and sidestepping the sprawling Lisson, who failed to control a loose puck. Maleek McGowan had the sole assist.
First-year goaltender Minchak, making his OHL debut, produced a big stop at 2:20 of the scoreless and penalty-free second period, foiling Ryder Cali directly in front with the rebound of a dangerous Cam Warren shot.
Battaglia, appearing to be offside, took a pass and went in alone on Lisson in the final seconds but was denied.
Lisson came up big against a one-timer from the slot by Nolan Snyder in the sixth minute of the third period to keep the hosts close, but they couldn’t get the equalizer despite applying strong pressure with the man advantage after Dervin went off for high-sticking at 14:19.
Lisson left for a sixth skater with 1:16 to play, but Kingston held on despite being outshot 16-8 in the period.
The Battalion visits the Sudbury Wolves at 7:05 p.m. Friday. The game can be seen live in North Bay on YourTV Channels 12 and 700.
BATTALION BULLETS: Participants in the pregame faceoff on Wolves Den Tim Hortons Day included owner-operator Lorie Young and chairman Peter Gregory of The Gathering Place … The Battalion wore its green-based sweaters and socks because the Frontenacs haven’t received their dark garb from the manufacturer … North Bay went 0-for-1 on the power play. Kingston was 1-for-1 … Opening lines included Ethan Procyszyn centring left winger Arseny Pronin and right winger Shamar Moses, Ihnat Pazii centring left winger Nick Wellenreiter and right winger Lirim Amidovski and Warren pivoting left winger Cali and right winger Parker Vaughan. Dubrovtsev centred left winger Laird and right winger Carey … Defence pairings were Bronson Ride with Brandt Harper, Jonathan Kapageridis with Kent Greer and Aaron Enright with Adrian Manzo … Mike McIvor backed up Lisson … The Battalion was without Charlie Larocque, Briir Long, Declan Gallivan and Carter Kunopaski … Kingston scratches included Niko Krmpotic, formerly of the Brantford Bulldogs … Free agent Minchak, a Cranford, N.J., resident and product of the New Jersey Rockets program, was signed after playing last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins 18U team … Reducing its overagers to three, in Will Bishop, McGowan and Andrew Kuzma, Kingston sent Ben Pickell to the Sarnia Sting on Friday for a 10th-round pick in the 2029 OHL Priority Selection … Mike Cairns and Kyle Whiteman were the referees.
