For the second straight game, the third period was the Achilles’ heel for the North Bay Battalion.

The Troops were tied 3-3 with Saginaw after two periods of play, but the Spirit scored three times in the final frame to win 6-3.

Battalion head coach Stan Butler says they’re fortunate the teams ahead of them also lost.

“We’re swimming in the lake, I just don’t know if we’re going to get to shore,” he said after yesterday’s game.

Butler says his team needs to focus for a full 60 minutes.

Max Kislinger, Zach Poirier and Brett McKenzie scored for North Bay.

Brent Moran made 21 saves in the loss.

On Saturday, Peterborough scored five goals in the third period to erase a 3-0 deficit and defeat the Battalion 5-3.

That game also marked Butler’s 1,400 OHL game, tops among active coaches.

After Sunday’s loss, he has a won-lost-tied record with the Troops and Oshawa of 666-670-65, including 596-621-52 with the Battalion.