The North Bay Battalion won 5-1 over visiting Oshawa on Thursday night.
Lirim Amidovski scored twice in the third period, on a penalty shot and into an empty net.
Ihnat Pazii’s first period goal gave the Troops the early lead, with Ethan Procyszyn’s 32nd marker of the season in the second period proving to be the game winner.
Nolan Laird rounded out North Bay’s scoring with a goal late in the third.
The Battalion still lead Ottawa by two points for the final playoff spot in the East after the 67s kept pace and won their game against Niagara by a score of 2-1.
Both teams have two games remaining.
North Bay is on the road playing Niagara Friday night.
A Troops’ win against the IceDogs coupled with an Ottawa loss in regulation, overtime or a shootout in Erie on Saturday night clinches a playoff spot for North Bay.
In the NOJHL, the Powassan Voodoos begin the post-season Friday night on the road in Hearst.
The Lumberjacks won all four games the two teams played against each other in the regular season, two of them in overtime.
Game two is Saturday night with games three and four on Monday and Tuesday at the Powassan Sportsplex (7 pm both nights).
And the North Bay Granite Clubs’ Team Winters plays its first draw Friday afternoon against Manitoba at the Curling Canada U20 Nationals.
They’re one of two teams representing Northern Ontario at the Summerside, PEI event.
