The north bay battalion were beaten 4-1 by the Brantford Bulldogs in Game 2 of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference playoff series on Friday at TD Civic Centre in Brantford. The result gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead and left North Bay with work to do before Game 3 on Sunday in North Bay at 2 p. m. ET.
Bulldogs stay in control as Game 2 slips away
Brantford did not waste its home ice edge. Marek Vanacker scored twice, Ryerson Leenders stopped 20 of 21 shots, and the Bulldogs outshot North Bay 29-21 while keeping the Battalion from ever fully breaking through.
The north bay battalion had a better start than in Game 1 and avoided the lopsided opening that had hurt them earlier in the series. They stayed disciplined, took only one penalty, and killed off the Bulldogs’ lone power play chance. They also created a few chances of their own, but the late goal before the first intermission changed the tone.
Caleb Malholtra opened the scoring at 19: 54 of the first period after a puck battle near the blue line created a bounce in front of North Bay netminder Jack Lisson. That goal sent Brantford into the break up 1-0 and set the stage for a second period in which the Bulldogs pushed further ahead.
Vanacker drives the Brantford attack
Marek Vanacker was the sharpest player on the ice for Brantford. The 19-year-old winger said the Bulldogs have been “coming wave after wave, ” and his two-goal night showed it. His scoring touch has been central to a season that already saw him finish with 47 goals in 60 games after scoring 64 in his first 168 games with the club.
Vanacker’s goals in Game 2 came from close range, a sign of how Brantford is creating damage around the net in the playoffs. He said the team has been cashing in around the crease and stressed that the group is staying level headed heading into North Bay.
North Bay captain Ethan Procyszyn tried to steady the response during the intermission, saying the Battalion had done better in the opening minutes and were simply unlucky on the late bounce. The north bay battalion still could not turn that improved start into sustained pressure, and Brantford kept the game under control.
What North Bay must change in Game 3
The north bay battalion now return home for Game 3 with the series on the line in practical terms, even if the math still leaves room. They will need a cleaner start, more sustained zone time, and more finish on the chances they create if they want to narrow the gap.
Brantford, meanwhile, heads north with confidence after taking both games at home. Vanacker said the Bulldogs know North Bay will push hard on its own ice, but the message from Brantford is simple: keep the same pace, keep the same pressure, and keep putting the puck in the net. The north bay battalion will have that test waiting on Sunday, and the next game now looks pivotal to the shape of the series.
