Ben AlavieLONDON, Ont. – The Brampton Battalion’s newfound scoring prowess went missing for too much of Saturday night.
Rookie goaltender Michael Houser made 38 saves to backstop the London Knights to a 4-1 Ontario Hockey League victory over the Troops, who defeated the Erie Otters 4-2 at home Thursday night in their previous game, which marked Cody Hodgson’s season debut.
Justin Taylor, Colin Martin, Michael MacDonald and Leigh Salters, into an empty net, scored for London, which boasts a won-lost-extended record of 37-14-2 for 76 points atop the Midwest Division.
Ben Alavie scored for the Battalion in the third period. Goaltender Patrick Killeen surrendered three goals on five shots before being relieved by rookie Jacob Riley early in the second. Riley faced 10 shots the rest of the way for the Troops, 18-22-12 for 48 points and third place in the Central Division.
“Throughout the game we had a lot of chances,” said Battalion coach Stan Butler. “But it was one of those games where they took advantage of the chances they had. We were around their net, but we couldn’t finish. Sometimes you get more chances than the other team and you don’t win. Sometimes it goes the other way.”
The Battalion played its 800th regular-season game since joining the OHL for the 1998-99 campaign. The Troops have an all-time won-lost-tied record of 362-386-52. The Niagara IceDogs, who began play in 1998-99 based in Mississauga, played their 800th game Thursday night, edging visiting London 2-1. The IceDogs’ record through 800 games was 270-483-47.
Hodgson’s return from a back injury suffered in off-ice training last July heralded new forward lines and hope for the offence of the Battalion, the OHL’s lowest-scoring team. But Houser stymied all attackers until defenceman Alavie put home his first goal of the season, assisted by Hodgson and Sean Jones, at 10:47 of the final frame.
With Riley gone for an extra attacker, Stephon Thorne hit the post in the 19th minute before Salters, who had two assists, collected the empty-netter at 19:17.
Killeen’s night ended at 1:42 of the middle period, when MacDonald poked the puck between the goaltender’s legs after a shot by Salters.
“The more shots Patrick gets the sharper he is,” said Butler. “The biggest thing for him is knowing that you can’t control how many shots you get. You just need to stay focused.”
Taylor opened the scoring at 10:07 of the first period, in which the Battalion fell behind 2-0 despite forging a 12-4 edge in shots. Taylor blasted his 28th goal from the left-wing circle off a rush.
Martin struck on the power play at 17:15 after Sam Carrick was called for goaltender interference for driving to the net with the puck and crashing into Houser’s crease. Martin scored on a screened slap shot from the left point.
Salters leveled Thomas Stajan in the third minute, with Thorne jumping Salters in retaliation. Both drew fighting majors, and Thorne received an instigating minor and misconduct.
Barclay Goodrow fired a shot off Houser’s shoulder in tight to the goaltender’s left, with the puck coming to rest atop the cage at 12:55.
Battalion scratches were Brad Albert, Craig Moore and Shane Kinsella. London scratched Matt Ashman, Pieter Schinkelshoek, Tommy Hughes and Phil Varone.
The Battalion hosts the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds at 2 p.m. Sunday.
BATTALION NOTEBOOK: Attendance was 8,960. The largest crowd to see the Troops this season is the 9,820 announced for a 7-4 loss Oct. 30 to the host Ottawa 67’s … The Knights, playing a second consecutive night at home after downing the Plymouth Whalers 3-2 via shootout before 9,051, wore blue-based sweaters promoting the Make-A-Wish children’s charity. It was a worthwhile cause that made for horrendous uniforms … Houser made his first start since facing 41 shots in a 7-4 victory Jan. 22 over the visiting Otters … The Battalion’s last win here was a 3-2 verdict Jan. 25, 2002, at the London Ice House. The Troops have eight losses in as many games at the John Labatt Centre, which opened during the 2002-03 season … The Battalion went 0-for-6 on the power play. London was 1-for-6 … The Troops have a won-lost-extended record of 9-12-5 on the road. London is 24-4-0 at home … Opening line combinations included Hodgson centring left winger Jones and right winger Scott Tanski, Carrick centring left winger Ian Watters and right winger Philip Lane and Stajan pivoting left winger Thorne and Goodrow on right wing. Domenic Alberga centred left winger Alex O’Neil and right winger Matt MacLeod. … Blueliner Albert sat out with flu … Killeen made his 113th start in goal, eclipsing David Chant for sole possession of third place on the Battalion’s career list. Brad Topping holds the club record with 140 starts … London resident Riley made 20 saves in a 2-0 home-ice blanking of the Knights on Nov. 8 in the opener of the two-game season series … Varone is out for the season after shoulder surgery to repair damage incurred in a fight with Thorne in that game.
