Shootout win for Troops

Owen Van Steensel and Shamar Moses scored in a shootout to lift the North Bay Battalion to a 3-2 comeback victory over the Erie Otters in a hotly contested Ontario Hockey League game Friday night that saw the Troops suffer manpower losses.

Ethan Procyszyn and Jacob LeBlanc, the latter at 19:55 of the third period, scored in regulation time for North Bay, while goaltender Mike McIvor provided 40 saves through overtime in a stellar performance before a crowd of 2,783.

The Battalion, which opened a two-game road trip and played the fifth of a season-high six straight away games, has a won-lost-extended record of 4-2-0 in the Central Division.

Moses made his Battalion debut after being acquired Thursday in a trade with the Barrie Colts for overager Dalyn Wakely. Moses opened the game at right wing on a line with Anthony Romani on left wing and Van Steensel at centre.

Romani, who was checked into the boards by Ty Henry at 10:32 of the first period, left for hospital in the first intermission and was diagnosed with a broken clavicle. In addition, Ihnat Pazii departed with a sore shoulder.

Sam Alfano and Wesley Royston had the Erie goals, and goaltender Noah Erliden made 35 saves through overtime. The Otters, who opened a three-game home stand, are 2-2-1 in the Midwest Division.

In the shootout, Erliden denied Jacob Therrien before Van Steensel and Moses connected. McIvor foiled Dylan Edwards and Malcolm Spence, and Erie didn’t get a third shooter after Moses clinched the win.

In the 60th minute, a short two-man advantage ended but Alfano remained in the penalty box for high-sticking with the Troops skating six on four when defenceman LeBlanc advanced from the right point and ripped a shot that appeared to deflect off Henry’s skate up into the net. Moses and Andrew LeBlanc assisted.

How to Watch Miami Dolphins Games in 2024Having led 1-0 through 20 minutes, Erie doubled its advantage when Royston scored on the power play at 2:45 of the second period. Royston arrived at the left post to jam home a puck sent across the crease, with Alexis Daviault and Spence receiving assists.

Procyszyn replied at 6:23, wiring the puck from the top of the right circle off a rush. Jacob LeBlanc had the lone assist on Procyszyn’s team-leading fifth goal of the season.

Pano Fimis and Alfano raced off on a two-man breakaway with the teams skating four a side midway in the frame but failed to beat McIvor, and the goaltender denied penalty killer Fimis on a solo break-in after Henry went off for interference at 12:33.

Alfano opened the scoring at 4:32 of the first period, deflecting Henry’s left-point shot through traffic. Fimis had the other assist on Alfano’s team-leading fourth goal.

The Battalion had trouble clearing its zone throughout the frame, with the Otters enjoying a 19-5 edge in shots on goal.

Erie’s Alex Messier jumped Lirim Amidovski after he put Daviault into the boards at 12:37. Amidovski was assessed boarding and fighting majors and a game misconduct, while Messier drew an instigating minor, fighting major and misconduct.

The Battalion completes the road trip with a visit to the Niagara IceDogs at 7 p.m. Saturday. The game can be seen live in North Bay on YourTV Channels 12 and 700.

BATTALION BULLETS: The Erie Insurance Arena has been inspected by the U.S. Secret Service repeatedly in recent days as Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris is scheduled to appear Monday night. The Otters have planned to engage in a team-building exercise away from the building Monday. Republican candidate Donald Trump has been to Erie and is to return … Moses was picked up by the Battalion bus Thursday en route to Erie, where the team overnighted. In addition to Moses, who was Barrie’s first-round choice, 19th overall, in 2023, North Bay received two OHL Priority Selection picks, a fourth-rounder in 2025 and a seventh-rounder in 2027 … The Battalion went 1-for-6 on the power play. Erie was 1-for-8 … Apart from the trio of Van Steensel, Romani and Moses, opening lines saw Procyszyn centring left winger Andrew LeBlanc and right winger Therrien, Nolan Laird pivoting left winger Pazii and right winger Amidovski and Ryder Carey centring left winger Reyth Smith and right winger Natan Teshome … Defence pairings had Bronson Ride with Wyatt Kennedy, Brayden Turley with Jacob LeBlanc and Zach Wilson with Kent Greer … The Battalion was without Declan Gallivan, Aaron Enright, Dylan Richter, Tyson Rismond and Stepan Chukharev … Erie scratched Gabriel Frasca, nursing an injury, and Matthew Schaefer, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 Priority Selection, who’ s recovering from an illness … James Kraft and Pat Myers were the referees. Article/Photo credit- North Bay Battalion