Struthers propels Troops to victory
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Matthew Struthers scored three goals, including an empty-netter, and added two assists to propel the North Bay Battalion to a 7-5 victory over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Troops’ traditional Thanksgiving Day matinee Monday.
Brandon Coe and Brad Chenier each provided one goal and one assist and Paul Christopoulos and Kyle Jackson, with the winner, also scored for North Bay, which recorded five power-play goals in improving its won-lost-extended record to 3-6-0 for six points, fourth in the Central Division. Goaltender Joe Vrbetic made 28 saves before a crowd of 2,189.
Jaromir Pytlik scored two goals and Jaden Peca, Tye Kartye and Alex Johnston each had one for Sault Ste. Marie, 5-4-0 for 10 points, tied with the Flint Firebirds for third place in the West Division. Goaltender Christian Propp faced 32 shots in his first appearance at North Bay since a June 12 trade to the Greyhounds. He backstopped a 6-4 home-ice win over the Troops on Sept. 21.
“It was an interesting game,” said Battalion head coach Stan Butler. “There were lots of goals. There was lots of excitement for the fans. I can’t ever recall going 5-for-6 on the power play. Every time we win a game, it gives the younger players confidence, and it’s important we get some wins because our schedule doesn’t get any easier.”
The Battalion, which whipped the host Niagara IceDogs 8-2 Saturday night, has scored seven power-play goals in 11 opportunities over the last two games. In their first seven games, the Troops went 4-for-28 with the man advantage.
“We made a decision about a week ago to go with five forwards on the first power play, and we’ll either score or be scored upon, and so far it’s been working our way,” noted Butler.
Kartye tied it 4-4 at 3:58 of the third period off a turnover, charging to the net and chipping the puck past Vrbetic, and Johnston gave the visitors their only lead at 7:43, backhanding a feed from Cole MacKay inside the right post.
Struthers made it 5-5 on the power play at 12:04 when he beat Propp through traffic from just inside the blue line, with assists by Mitchell Russell and Mason Primeau.
Jackson scored the winner at 15:41, stuffing a loose puck under the seated Propp. Primeau and Ryan Thompson, with his first OHL point, earned the assists on Jackson’s first goal of the season.
After Propp left for a sixth skater at 18:27, Struthers hit the empty net at 18:38. The unassisted goal was his team-leading fifth.
North Bay struck for two power-play goals in the first period, sparked by Coe, who swept a Russell feed between Propp’s pads from the lip of the crease at 1:57. Struthers also assisted on Coe’s third goal.
Christopoulos made it 2-0 at 10:02, blasting a man-advantage drive from the left circle past Propp, who may have been screened by Luke Moncada and others. Liam Arnsby and Moncada earned assists on defenceman Christopoulos’s second goal.
Pytlik replied at 15:11, lofting a shot from inside the blue line that appeared to change direction, and Peca knotted the game 2-2 at 3:55 of the second period when he split defenders in the mid slot and went in alone on Vrbetic.
The Battalion connected on the power play at 10:10 when Chenier whipped a Struthers pass between Propp’s pads from the right circle. Coe contributed the other assist on Chenier’s goal.
Pytlik responded on the power play 1:11 later, finishing off a backdoor play at the right post and prompting a long review to consider the possibility that the play was offside.
Struthers put the Troops in front 4-3 with a power-play goal at 19:51, just 10 seconds after Jacob LeGuerrier went off for crosschecking. Struthers ripped a low shot off the right wing between Propp’s legs. Chenier claimed the lone assist.
Saturday night, Mitchell Russell scored two goals and added an assist as the Battalion routed the Niagara IceDogs 8-2 in St. Catharines.
Luke Moncada and Mason Primeau each scored two goals, Matthew Struthers contributed one goal and two assists and Braden Henderson also scored as North Bay, which earned its first road win, snapped a four-game losing streak. Goaltender Joe Vrbetic made 37 saves.
The Battalion faces the Saginaw Spirit at 7:05 p.m. Friday to open a three-game road trip that kicks off five consecutive away dates.
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