The Sudbury Wolves snapped their five-game losing streak with a definitive 8-3 home game win against the North Bay Battalion on Friday night.
This improves upon the home team’s record of 22 wins, 17 regulation losses, five overtime losses and third place standing in the Ontario Hockey League’s Central Division.
Veteran goalie Nate Krawchuk was the starting goaltender for the Sudbury Wolves, while rookie netminder Jack Lisson got the nod for the North Bay Battalion.
Less than three minutes into the hockey game, Ondrej Molnar collected the puck from Quentin Musty in front of the net and put it behind Lisson for his eighth goal of the season for the only goal in the opening period, giving Sudbury a 1-0 lead at the first intermission.
Zach Wigle tied the game for the Troops 2:17 into the second off of a beautiful no-look pass from Andrew LeBlanc for Wigle’s ninth goal of the season for North Bay to tie the game 1-1.
With 7:10 left to play in the middle frame, Jack Ziliotto for Sudbury scored his first career Ontario Hockey League goal when he tipped a pass from Chase Coughlan into the net putting Sudbury ahead by a score of 2-1.
With 4:03 remaining in the second, with both Ondrej Molnar and Donovan McCoy in the penalty box for Sudbury, Andrew LeBlanc found himself alone to the left of Krawchuk and tied the game at 2-2.
Just 39 seconds later Nathan Villeneuve intercepted a North Bay pass and went in alone on Lisson to score his 21st goal of the season giving Sudbury a 3-2 lead.
With Brayden Turley in the box for North Bay, Chase Coughlan overcame several North Bay defenseman trying to outmuscle him to put the puck behind Lisson for his 17th goal of the season to give Sudbury a 4-2 lead with one period left to play in the hockey game.
Nine seconds into the third period with Chase Coughlan in the penalty box for Roughing, Ethan Procyszyn found Krawchuk out of position and scored on the power play for his 26th goal of the season, putting North Bay within striking distance, now down only 4-3.
At the 1:36 mark of the third, Kocha Delic tipped a Villeneuve slap shot behind Lisson for his 21st goal of the season giving Sudbury a 5-3 lead.
Less than 30 seconds later Sudbury extended their lead to 6-3 when Alex Pharand picked up a rebound off of a shot from Kieron Walton for his 16th goal of the season.
Just under one minute later, Quentin Musty grabbed the puck in the slot area and shot it behind Lisson for his 14th goal of the season and putting Sudbury in control with a 7-3 lead.
The Sudbury Wolves added a short handed goal with Nate Villeneuve’s 22nd goal of the season when he scored on yet another breakaway at the 9:46 mark of the third period to seal a dominating 8-3 win over the North Bay Battalion, ending their five game losing streak.
The Sudbury Wolves remain in third place in the Central Division and improve their record to 23 wins, 17 regulation losses, and five overtime losses on the season.
The Sudbury Wolves stay at home for an afternoon game against the Brantford Bulldogs on Sunday, with puck drop scheduled for 2:05 p.m.