#2 Barrie Colts vs #3 North Bay Battalion
Season Series: Barrie (2-3-0-1) – North Bay (4-1-0-1)
For the third consecutive season the Barrie Colts and North Bay Battalion will lock horns in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The division rivals are very familiar with one another, meeting six times throughout the regular season, with the Battalion coming away with four of a possible six wins. While Barrie finished nine points ahead of the Battalion in the regular season standings, North Bay’s season series victory over the Colts should give the club confidence going into the Eastern Conference Semi-Final where they are considered underdogs.
Both Barrie and North Bay are fresh off lengthy seven game first round playoff series, where both clubs looked as though their season’s were on the verge of coming to an early
end. While it wouldn’t have come as a complete shock if the “Rebuilding” Battalion fell to a more veteran laden Peterborough Petes squad, it would have been completely disastrous had Barrie fell to a young and inexperience Mississauga Steelheads squad. With that being said, both teams are through to the second round and fans from both sides can expect an intense, physical and skilled series as the rivals embark on what is likely to be a lengthy series
Through the first round both squads showed a number of positives, along with some 
concerning traits that leave you wondering what team will actually show up on a nightly bases. From a Barrie perspective the team came to play sporadically and needed some timely goaltending and scoring to slip past the Steelheads. While in North Bay it seemed as though the Battalion couldn’t consistently put together sixty minute efforts. Is it concerning that a young North Bay squad let a 3-0 lead in game six slip away, absolutely. However we have to remember this is a young team with over half the roster competing in the OHL playoffs for the first time. Inconsistencies should almost be expected. However from a Barrie point of view their inconsistencies are alarming as the Colts, who bulked up at the deadline boast a ton of marquee players and experience.
Kevin Labanc, Andrew Mangiapane and Justin Scott really stepped up for Barrie in a series where Mackenzie Blackwood really wasn’t on his “A” game. However in round two the Colts are going to need more from the likes of Roy Radke, Cordell James and Keigan 
Goetz, especially if Dylan Sadowy continues to miss time due to an injury. Through seven games in round one the trio combined for zero points and at times were nearly invisible. On top of the struggling trio Anaheim Ducks prospect Julius Nattinen needs to elevate his game. Nattinen produced a goal and five assists through the first round playoff series against Mississauga, however he wasn’t a standout. As the playoffs drag on players with the ability to impact games need to rise to the level if their teams want to find success and Nattinen is that type of player. If Barrie can get all three lines going like they did throughout the regular season the Battalion could have their hands full.
Meanwhile from a North Bay perspective they know they’re going to have their hands full with the Colts in round two, however they also have to know they can not only hang with the Colts, but beat them. While the star power may not be there outside of Mike Amadio, 
Kyle Wood and Cam Dineen, the offensive production was. Not usually known for their offensive traits, the Battalion finished third in Goals For in the Eastern Conference with 240. A far cry from the 295 that Barrie put up, however when you factor in the youth movement in North Bay you have to respect what the team was able to accomplish. We all know what Mike Amadio and Mathew Santos were able to accomplish this season, the question isn’t if the duo will be able to continue with their success in round two, it’s who will step up behind them. Defensemen Kyle Wood and Cam Dineen provided offense from the back end in round one, combining for eighteen points, however North Bay will need the likes of Daniel Vertiy, Brett McKenzie and Steve Harland to provide some secondary scoring.
The Colts possesses a high octane offense, a deeper defense core and the star power North Bay does not. But North Bay possesses a team first mentality with a couple big time point 
producers, a veteran goaltender with the capability to steal not only a game, but a series and a coach with a history of winning. Stan Butler’s ability to game plan, make adjustments and flat out win games his team has no business winning is something that may be the determining factor in this second round series.
This series is going to a flat out war as every game between the two teams this season was a physical, knock ’em out, drag ’em out type of game. Will a younger Battalion squad be able to keep the pace ? Will Barrie get the goaltending and production their used to? There are quite a few question marks heading into the series. Both teams went through emotional ups and downs in round one, and both teams came out victorious. With both teams sporting excellent home records and average road records home ice could play a huge factor in a series, that I expect to be very close. I was lucky enough to take in first round playoff games in both the Barrie/Mississauga and North Bay/Peterborough series and having seen what both teams can do up close and personal, I’m leaning with the underdogs here, predicting the North Bay Battalion in Seven Games.
Prospects Hockey 