Greyhounds win shootout over Battalion (8 photos, update)

With two teams battling for positioning in their respective conferences, it was the Soo Greyhounds that gained the all-important extra point.

After giving up a late goal to force overtime, the Greyhounds eventually beat the North Bay Battalion 4-3 in a shootout on Friday night at the Essar Centre.

Justin Bailey scored the shootout winner for the Greyhounds winning streak was extended to nine games.

“One of the things we challenged our guys to do is beat (North Bay) at their own game in terms of their defending,” said Greyhounds Coach Sheldon Keefe. “Our guys were committed to stopping on the puck, getting above and making them have to come through us. I was pleased.

“From the bench, I was much happier with our effort and our attention to detail defensively,” Keefe added. “We did a good job of limiting their chances.”

North Bay Coach Stan Butler was pleased despite the loss.

“It was a good hockey game,” said Butler. “It could have gone either way and even in the shootout we had two chances to win. (The Greyhounds) have a great hockey team and everybody knows that. Just like last year, we find ways to be competitive against better teams.”

Kyle Wood tied the game for the Battalion with his third goal of the night late in the third period after Greyhounds goaltender Brandon Halverson turned the puck over behind the Greyhounds net. Ryan Kujawinski would feed Wood for the tying goal.

“It’s all about decision-making,” Keefe said of the game-tying goal in the third. “It’s obviously an area he needs to continue to develop in. He showed some indecision there on a tough play. It’s a 50-50 play there that our defenceman can go in and figure it out. Some goalies are working on their positioning in the net or staying on their feet, Halvy has to work on and develop his decision-making.”

Keefe would also credit Halverson, who stopped 26 shots and four of five North Bay shooters in the shootout.

“He was great all game,” Keefe said. “The goals that he let in were tough shots. They were clean looks by a guy who has scored a lot of goals as a defenceman this year. He was really good all game and in the shootout.”

Nick Ritchie, Tim Gettinger and Anthony DeAngelo scored for the Greyhounds in regulation time in the win.

North Bay goaltender Jake Smith stopped 38 shots.

With the win, the Greyhounds record improves to 36-9-0-2 while North Bay falls to 23-12-6-4 with the loss.

The Greyhounds wrap up their two-game homestand on Saturday night when they host the Mississauga Steelheads.

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OTHER SCORES

In Kingston, Devin Williams made 45 saves as the Erie Otters beat the Kingston Frontenacs 3-2. Dylan Strome scored a pair of goals to lead the Otters offensively. Remi Elie also scored in the win. Corey Pawley had a goal and an assist for Kingston. Conor McGlynn also scored in the loss.

In Plymouth, Alex Nedeljkovic stopped all 41 shots he faced as the Plymouth Whalers blanked the Belleville Bulls 3-0. Mathew Campagna, Sonny Milano and Francesco Villardi scored for Plymouth in the win. Bulls goaltender Charlie Graham made 30 saves.

In Guelph, Tyler Bertuzzi had three goals and two assists as the Guelph Storm beat the London Knights 8-5. Jason Dickinson had two goals and two assists as the Storm scored five times in the second period in the win. Pius Suter chipped in with a goal and two assists for Guelph while Zac Leslie and Tyler Hill also scored. Max Domi and Christian Dvorak had two goals and an assist for London. Chandler Yackimowicz added a goal and an assist for the Knights.

In Kitchener, Nick Magyar had two goals and an assist as the Kitchener Rangers beat the Owen Sound Attack 5-2. Brandon Robinson added a goal and two assists for the Rangers. Adam Mascherin and Mason Kohn also scored in the win. Owen Sound goaltender Jack Flinn stopped 42 shots while Jeffrey Gilligan and Erik Bradford scored in the loss.

In Ottawa, Liam Herbst stopped 21 shots as the Ottawa 67’s blanked the Sarnia Sting 5-0. Nathan Todd had two goals and an assist for the 67’s. Jeremiah Addison, Trent Mallette and Brendan Bell also scored in the win while Travis Konecny and Dante Salituro set up two goals each.

In Sudbury, Nathan Bastien’s goal at 6:51 of the third period was the game-winner as the Mississauga Steelheads beat the Sudbury Wolves 3-2. Sean Day and Bryson Cianfrone also scored for Mississauga, who erased a 2- Sudbury lead in the game. Pavel Jenys and Jacob Harris scored for Sudbury in the loss.

In Peterborough, Michael Clarke scored on the power play at 2:27 of overtime to give the Peterborough Petes beat the Oshawa Generals. Eric Cornel, Nathan Pancel, Greg Betzold and Josh Maguire also scored in the win. Matthew Mancina made 39 saves for the Petes. Cole Cassels scored twice for the Generals in the loss. Stephen Desrocher and Michael McCarron also scored for Oshawa.

(PHOTO: Soo Greyhounds forward Sergey Tolchinsky battles for position with North Bay Battalion defenceman Miles Liberati in OHL action on Friday night. Kenneth Armstrong/SooToday)