NORTH BAY, Ont. — Kyle McDonald scored back-to-back goals in the first period, sending the North Bay Battalion to a 5-2 Ontario Hockey League victory Sunday over the Barrie Colts to even their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal at a game apiece.
Kyle Jackson had one goal and one assist and Liam Arnsby and Pasquale Zito, into an empty net, each provided a goal for second-place North Bay, while goaltender Dom DiVincentiis made 32 saves before a Memorial Gardens crowd of 3,460.
Jacob Frasca scored one goal and added an assist and Beau Jelsma had the other goal for third-place Barrie, which won the opener Friday night 3-2 in overtime on the same ice. Goaltender Anson Thornton give up four goals on 27 shots.
The series now shifts to Barrie for games Tuesday and Thursday nights.
Jelsma scored on the power play 43 seconds into the first period, 36 seconds after Justin Ertel was handed a slashing penalty. Assisted by Frasca and Evan Vierling, Jelsma put home his third goal of the playoffs from the left hash mark.
McDonald replied at 1:29, tipping a screened right-point shot by Ty Nelson at the goalmouth, before striking again at 8:07. McDonald took a feed from Jackson and charged down the right wing around Vierling to beat Thornton to the short side. It was McDonald’s league-leading ninth goal.
Jackson scored what proved to be the winner at 16:38 on assists by Matvey Petrov and Ertel. Jackson got to the left side of the net to convert a Petrov pass over the glove of a diving Thornton. It was Jackson’s fourth goal.
Connor Punnett received a penalty for checking from behind for a hit on Arnsby into the end boards at 19:27, with Josh Kavanagh and Nelson drawing roughing minors in the ensuing melee.
Arnsby connected at 4:39 of the middle period to give the Battalion a 4-1 lead. Nikita Tarasevich swept behind the net with the puck, feeding Arnsby for a snap shot from the bottom of the left circle. Paul Christopoulos also assisted on Arnsby’s second goal.
Christopoulos delivered a solid open-ice check on Vierling at 17:18, sending him to the ice on his back and eliciting the arrival of a gurney. Vierling, who suffered a concussion and didn’t return to the game, managed to get to his feet to be helped off the ice. Christopoulos, originally placed in the penalty box, was freed upon video review.
Frasca scored on the power play at 9:25 of the third period, redirecting a shot just wide left of the net by Brandt Clarke for a fourth goal of the playoffs. Ethan Cardwell had the other assist.
The Colts, who outshot the Troops 16-7 in the frame, continued to press, but DiVincentiis stood firm. With Thornton gone for an extra attacker, Punnett passed the puck back to a vacant right point position and Zito, outracing Jelsma, caught up to the puck in the Barrie crease and knocked it home for his second goal.
The game Tuesday can be seen live in North Bay on YourTV Channels 12 and 700 at 7:30 p.m.
BATTALION BULLETS: The Battalion has an all-time record of 89-103 in the postseason, including 47-48 at home. The Troops are 42-37 in playoffs as North Bay, including 23-16 at home … The Battalion is 15-23 all-time in the second game of a playoff series, including 10-14 at home … In 21 playoff games, Petrov has two goals and 20 assists for 22 points, tied with Jackson, who has 13 goals and 9 assists in 20 games, for 14th place in franchise history. Petrov’s 20 assists are tied with Mike Amadio for fourth place all-time … In 21 games, McDonald has 15 goals and five assists for 20 points, tied with Nelson, who has three goals and 17 assists in 21 games, for 17th place in franchise annals. McDonald’s 15 goals are seventh all-time, while Jackson’s 13 are tied with Luch Aquino and Mathew Santos for eighth … Nelson’s 17 assists are tied with Aquino and Barclay Goodrow for seventh place … Jackson has two game-winning goals, tied with seven others for 10th place … The Battalion went 0-for-2 on the power play. Barrie was 2-for-3 … The Battalion scratched Wyatt Kennedy, Tnias Mathurin, Jacob Therrien, Brayden Turley and Brett Bouchard … Alexander Lukin returned to the North Bay lineup after a four-game absence … Clarke leads the OHL in playoff points with 19, from six goals and 13 assists in seven games … Barrie scratches included Kashawn Aitcheson and Chris Grisolia.
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