Troops power play proves pivotal

By Chris Pope

The North Bay Battalion snapped the Kitchener Rangers streak.

The Troops tallied three power play markers and topped the Rangers 5-4 Thursday at the Memorial Gardens.

North Bay twice held a two goal lead, but Kitchener erased both, before Justin Brazeau tapped home his 17th of the year in the final minute, icing it for the Battalion.

“I think we missed the net way too much,” said Rangers Head Coach Jay McKee. “The goals against come down to individual mistakes. On the final goal, we let a D walk down the wall and we let their top-scorer score while we were standing right next to him, not tying up his stick.”

The loss snaps the Rangers’ nine-game point streak, and four-game wining streak.

LISTEN to the Farwell and Pope Podcast Ep. 007 – Bundy

Chris McGonigle picked up the loss in goal, stopping 18 of 23 shots. Captain Connor Bunnaman had two assists while Riley Damiani led the way offensively with two goals in a losing effort.

“We have to stick to our game plan. We kinda got away from it a little bit,” said Damiani after the loss that boosts the Battalion’s record to 8-13-3-0.

“We got a little comfy out there I guess. Their record doesn’t show how they play. They’re a really good hockey team.”

The Rangers turn their attention Friday to another good hockey team – the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

“It’s a lesson learned. The road doesn’t get any easier. It’s going to be a very tough match-up, said McKee. “There were some things we can draw on tonight that were positives but there are certainly areas we need to clean up.”

The Soo has won its last nine games, and popped the Rangers earlier in the year 3-2.

The Harris Law pre-game show on 570 News is at 6:35 p.m.

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