BRAMPTON, Ont. – Stan Butler called it the gutsiest victory in the Brampton Battalion’s 14-year history. As director of hockey operations and head coach throughout that time, he should know.

Philip Lane scored two special-teams goals and goaltender Matej Machovsky earned his fourth shutout of the season to lead the Battalion to a 3-0 win Sunday over the Niagara IceDogs, vaulting the Troops back into first place in the Ontario Hockey League’s Central Division.

Lane, who scored third-period goals shorthanded and on the power play, added an assist, while Brandon Robinson netted the first goal and Dylan Blujus earned two assists for the depleted Battalion, which snapped a season-high four-game losing streak and improved its won-lost-extended record to 15-10-4 for 34 points.

Goaltender Christopher Festarini faced 38 shots for Niagara, 15-11-3 for 33 points, tied with the Barrie Colts for second place in the division.

Machovsky made 26 saves, and rookie Robinson, who scored his sixth goal of the season, collected his team-leading fourth winning goal before a crowd of 1,620.

“I was really proud of the kids,” said Butler, whose squad dressed 18 players, two below the limit, because of injuries and a suspension. “They played a simple game and they worked hard. The guys did everything. They blocked shots; they played simple. I give the kids full marks for the win today.”

Said Butler: “To be down the guys we had out and to play what I still believe is the best team in the conference, I was glad we took some points today.”

Butler praised the performance of Machovsky, who’s tied for the OHL lead in shutouts with Niagara’s Mark Visentin.

“Our goalie made some big saves he had to make, and both our goalies have been good this year. Today was just another example.”

Said Blujus: “It was definitely a big win. The defencemen had to step it up today, because none of us was injured and we have a lot of forwards injured. We thought we had to take it into our own hands and play a great defensive game, and that’s what we did.

“It was a great confidence-booster, after being on the little losing steak that we were on, beating a great team like Niagara that’s been hot lately. Beating them is a great feeling for us.”

With Adam Lloyd off for holding, penalty killer Lane gave the Troops a 2-0 lead on an unassisted effort at 13:21 of the final period. Lane intercepted a cross-ice pass high in the Battalion zone and raced away from Jesse Graham to snap a low shot past Festarini on the blocker side.

Lane collected his ninth goal with the man advantage at 16:27, jamming the puck under Festarini from a goalmouth scramble. Jamie Lewis and Blujus drew the assists.

Robinson scored on the power play at 19:14 of the first period. After his initial attempt was blocked by Luke Mercer, Robinson jumped on the loose puck and snapped a shot from the mid slot that beat Festarini under the right pad.

Machovsky faced six shots in the opening frame, with his best save coming during a Niagara power play. Andrew Agozzino turned and fired from the slot, but Machovsky made a left-toe save.

Agozzino also had Niagara’s best scoring chance in the scoreless second period, when he cut across the goalmouth and lofted a backhander off the crossbar above a sprawling Machovsky.

The Battalion enjoyed a two-man advantage for 1:26 after David Pacan and Dougie Hamilton went off for crosschecking and roughing respectively but failed to capitalize.

The Battalion scratched Patrik Machac, Barclay Goodrow, Matt MacLeod, Alex O’Neil, Ian Watters and Michael Santini. Niagara, which dressed 19, scratched Frank Schumacher, Milan Doudera, Tom Kuhnhackl, Billy Jenkins and Mitch Bennett.

The Battalion visits the Kingston Frontenacs at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

BATTALION NOTEBOOK: “This victory, one of the greatest in club history, given the circumstances, is a very nice birthday present,” said Battalion owner Scott Abbott, noting that the win came one day after the 15th anniversary of the awarding of the franchise … The Battalion started play in 1998-99, simultaneously with the IceDogs, originally based in Mississauga. The victory was the 50th in 92 games against the IceDogs, matching the Troops’ best win total against any opponent, the other being the Sudbury Wolves ... The Battalion went 2-for-5 on the power play. Niagara was 0-for-5 … The Battalion, which had lost its previous two games at the Powerade Centre, is 8-5-2 at home. Niagara is 5-8-1 on the road ... The Troops are 10-1-0 when they open the scoring ... Opening line combinations featured Sam Carrick centring left winger Brett Mackie and Andreas Tsogkas on right wing, Mitchell Porowski pivoting left winger Robinson and right winger Lane and Lewis centring Brenden Miller on left wing and Connor Jarvis on right wing. Lloyd, who skated at right wing, had a variety of linemates ... Geoff Bezruchko, called up from the affiliated junior A Orangeville Flyers to play in a 4-0 loss Friday night at Sudbury, was unavailable because of a scheduling conflict ... Goodrow sat out after being gouged in the torso by Carrick’s broken stick at Sudbury, while Machac bruised a shoulder in a 2-1 loss via shootout to the visiting Kitchener Rangers on Thursday night. MacLeod incurred a concussion in a 7-2 loss Nov. 18 to the host Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Santini separated a shoulder in a 3-0 win Nov. 20 at Sudbury, and Watters is recovering from surgery on severed tendons in his right wrist ... O’Neil completed a 10-game suspension.