Colts Bit by Bulldogs
The Hamilton Bulldogs would score five unanswered third period goals Thursday night for their sixth win in row skating to an 8-3 victory at the Molson Centre.
Coming out of the second intermission the two teams would begin the third period in a tie game but the powerful Bulldogs offense would take over.
The Bulldogs first line would do much of the work as Niki Petti would score three goals for the hat trick and Connor Roberts would register a goal and two assists on the night.
The Barrie Colts beginning another tough three-in-three weekend Thursday night at the BMC.
First up, would be a Hamilton Bulldogs club that had won five straight coming into the weekend.
Early on in the first period the young Colts squad would have a consistent trend as geting into penalty trouble often leading to Hamilton’s first two goals of the game.
Just over two minutes into this one Barrie would get called on a hooking penalty leading to Hamilton’s first power play.
A minute into the man advantage, after a scramble in front of the net, Colts starting netminder Christian Propp would get tied up with his defenders in the crease and Niki Petti would dig the loose puck to bury it for the go ahead goal.
Midway through the first period while down a man once again, Hamilton would work a quick shot from the point that would be perfectly deflected down by Connor Roberts to put the Bulldogs ahead by two.
Less than a minute later the Colts would get on the board. Jaden Peca would fire one on net. Bulldogs starting goalie Dawson Carty made the initial save but the rebound would go right to 16-year-old Curtis Douglas, who snapped home his third goal of the season, with the secondary assist going to Tyler Tucker.
The Colts would escape the first period only down by one heading into the intermission.
In the opening minutes of the second period the Colts would gather a number of chances but Roy Radke and Joey Keane would both find iron.
Just over four minutes into the second after Barrie challenged at one end, the Bulldogs would turn up ice on a two on one. Will Bitten would slide one across to Michael Cramarossa who fired it into the open cage passed a sprawling Propp.
The Bulldog’s would eventually get caught into their own trouble just passed the eight-minute mark of the middle frame. While already on the penalty kill Hamilton would get called on another hooking infraction giving the Colts a two-man advantage.
With seconds remaining on the five on three Barrie capitalized. Tom Hedberg would send a shot on net, striking iron once again, but the lucky bounce off the crossbar would come straight down to the stick of Zach Magwood. He’d bury his 15th goal of the season to bring the Colts within a goal once again. Tyler Tucker would add his second assist of the game.
With just over four minutes to go in the second Barrie would continue to press. Anthony Stefano would find the loose puck in the slot and fire one towards the net. The low shot would deflect off the leg of Lucas Chiodo going hard to the goalmouth and past Carty to knot thing up 3-3.
That would be it for the Colts in this one as just over three minutes passed into the final frame the Bulldogs would regain the lead for good.
Skating over the Barrie blue line Connor Roberts would lay a textbook pass to the tape of Petti to tap home his second of the game.
That same Hamilton line would continue to pressure the Colts defense. Minutes after Propp would come up with a big glove save, Roberts would come down the right side once again.
After Propp would make the first save the puck would deflect into the air. Matthew Strome would catch it bringing it down to his stick to push the Dogs lead to two.
Marian Studenic, Petti, and Jack Hanley would add to the goal scoring for Hamilton in the final period taking home the win.
Next up the Colts travel to Sudbury Friday night, before returning home Saturday night to host the OHL’s top team, the Erie Otters. Puck drops at 7:30pm at the Barrie Molson Centre. Tickets still available at www.barriecolts.com
