NORTH BAY, Ont. — Anthony Romani scored two goals to pace the North Bay Battalion to a 5-1 Ontario Hockey League victory Friday night over the Mississauga Steelheads, giving the Troops the opener of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal.
Ty Nelson had one goal and one assist and Dalyn Wakely and Josh Bloom a goal apiece for second-place North Bay, which got 36 saves from goaltender Dom DiVincentiis before a crowd of 3,229.
James Hardie scored for seventh-place Mississauga, while goaltender Ryerson Leenders provided 23 saves in the game, which featured plenty of hostile exchanges, especially in the first period before the issue was decided.
The Battalion led 5-0 at the second intermission before Matvey Petrov and Wakely were assessed double minors for roughing at 13:13 of the third period, when Mississauga’s Porter Martone, Charlie Callaghan and Angus MacDonell each drew a roughing call for a scrum at the Troops’ net.
Hardie scored at 14:19 on the ensuing power play, assisted by Zander Veccia and Kasper Larsen.
After leading 1-0 through 20 minutes, the Battalion took control with four second-period goals, sparked by Wakely with what proved to be the winner at 2:20. He took a second-chance feed from Kyle Jackson off a near-broken rush and beat Leenders from the mid slot. Petrov also assisted.
Romani made it 3-0 at 8:03, wiring the puck home from a sharp angle in the right circle, assisted by Owen Van Steensel and Nelson, before striking again at 11:25. Romani swept past Dylan Gordon in the slot on the backhand before going to his forehand on crashing the crease. Pasquale Zito and Luc Brzustowski, who earned his first OHL playoff point, had assists.
Bloom struck for his first OHL playoff goal at 18:36 off a three-on-one rush against Callaghan. Zito and Kyle McDonald assisted.
Nelson opened the scoring at 7:30 of the first period, driving to the left side of the net to convert his own rebound. Petrov assisted on defenceman Nelson’s first OHL playoff goal after he earned 10 assists in 13 games last year.
Romani was in prime position to score on the power play after Veccia went off for roughing 47 seconds into the game. Romani found himself alone in front of Leenders off a Nelson play at the blue line but failed to capitalize on a deke.
Mississauga’s Mason Zebeski was handed a major for checking from behind and a game misconduct for a dangerous hit into the boards on Alexander Lukin at 10:49.
The second game is scheduled on the same ice at 2 p.m. Sunday before the series moves to Mississauga for games Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
BATTALION BULLETS: The ceremonial faceoff celebrated two initiatives, including the raising of $1 million for KidSport programs since the introduction of the Battalion’s 50-50 draw in the 2013-14 season. More than 2,600 grants have helped North Bay families cover the cost of registration fees and equipment for athletes 18 and younger. The NoahStrong Foundation, named in memory of minor hockey player and multiple organ donor Noah Dugas, enhances the lives of those awaiting life-saving transplants … The first 2,500 fans received rally towels, with prizes from sponsors … The Battalion has won 17 playoff series and lost 19, with eight series wins and six losses since relocating from Brampton in 2013 … The Battalion has an all-time won-lost record of 85-100 in 185 playoff games, including 45-46 in 91 home dates. The Troops are 38-34 in 72 playoff games since relocation, including 21-14 at home. The franchise is 23-14 in the opening game of a playoff series, including 15-2 on home ice and 7-0 in openers at Memorial Gardens … The Battalion’s Bloom, Brayden Hislop, Justin Ertel and Ethan Procyszyn made their OHL playoff debuts … Nelson turned 19 Thursday … North Bay went 0-for-5 on the power play. Mississauga was 1-for-5 … The Battalion scratched Wyatt Kennedy, Tnias Mathurin, Jacob Therrien, Brayden Turley and Brett Bouchard … Mississauga was without Stevie Leskovar, Ryan Struthers and Quinn Binnie.
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