The Sudbury Wolves made a game of it, but the pack ended 2019 in North Bay on the wrong end of a 5-3 final score.
Playing without star centre Quinton Byfield, who is representing Team Canada at the World Junior Tournament in the Czech Republic, Sudbury has now lost six games in a row since Byfield left.
As has often been the case this season, goaltending was an issue Tuesday afternoon. Starter Christian Purboo was pulled after surrendering three first-period goals, making just five saves on eight shots. Replacement Mitchell Weeks stopped 15 of the 16 shots he faced.
The Battalion's Mason Primeau was given a five-minute interference penalty – and a game misconduct – midway through the first-period, giving the Wolves a golden opportunity to jump out to a lead.
But it was North Bay's Brad Chenier who opened the scoring at 11:24. Owen Robinson scored his eight of the year just 10 seconds later, tying the game with an assist from Adam Samuelsson.
Luke Moncada put the Battalion ahead for good with a short-handed goal at 16:25, and Alex Christopoulos made it 3-1 with less than two minutes remaining in the opening frame.
Moncada added the game-winner early in the second, with Nolan Hutcheson making it 4-2 North Bay with five minutes left in the period, with assists from Shane Bulitka and Macauley Carson.
The Wolves pulled their netminder late in the third, down two goals, but the Battalion added an empty-netter with less than two minutes left in the game. Carson scored with 18 seconds on the clock, making the final 5-3.
Sudbury is back in action Jan. 3, when they take on the Barrie Colts at Sudbury Arena. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
