Gens double up the Colts in 4-2 victory
The Barrie Colts would play a determined effort looking to continue their recent solid play but ultimately it would not be enough as former Colt and Barrie native Matt Brassard would bury the game winner midway through the third period to give the Oshawa Generals the 4-2 victory.
After falling behind 2-0 from an early five on three penalty kill, the two-goal deficit would prove costly as the Colts would never be able to get the equalizer back.
Zach Magwood would score both goals for Barrie and Christian Propp making his 31st start would make 27 saves in the loss.
The Colts were in Oshawa to face the Generals on Wednesday night in a rare mid-week matchup at the Tribute Communities Centre.
With the Guelph Storm gaining a point last night versus the Kitchener Rangers the Colts officially clinched the first overall pick in the upcoming OHL Priority Selection Entry Draft. As well Barrie will be selecting first overall in the CHL import draft and has gained the number one pick in the OHL’s first major midget draft.
The boys entering their final week of the regular season were looking to build off the previous weekend, which saw them gain their first shutout of the year and finish the season on a high note.
Oshawa would come out strong putting the pressure on early as Brassard would test Propp early on not one but two chances as he pulled the puck out front firing on goal but Propp would squeeze his pads tight together to hold the line.
Coming into the night the Colts penalty kill had not allowed a goal in four consecutive games going 21 for 21, but that would be tested early.
The Colts would get down two men for a minute thirty giving the Generals the opportunity to strike.
Dominic Commisso would let one fly from the point placing a perfect shot to beat Propp to take the first lead of the game.
Just under a minute later with the Gens still on the powerplay, Kenny Heuther would walk in and blast one to the back of the net to increase the lead to two.
Barrie would get a powerplay opportunity to gain some momentum for themselves and try to get one back.
Just as the Gens penalty would end Anthony Stefano would get a great chance making a beautiful move around the Oshawa defenders but would be denied by Generals starting netminder Jeremy Brodeur and keep the Colts off the board down by two heading into the intermission.
For much of the second period the two teams would share opportunities playing back and forth even strength hockey.
Just past the midway point of the second, with the Colts once again down a man instead it would be them cutting the lead in half.
As Brodeur was attempting to fire a pass up ice Roy Radke would snag it out of the air and skate the puck in on a two on one. Radke would slide it over to Magwood who buried his 17th goal of the season.
The Colts would have a flurry of chances to finish the period but would go into third down by a goal and outshooting the Gens 23-20 after forty minutes of play.
The two teams would trade penalties early in the final frame resulting in some four on four hockey and plenty of open ice.
Unfortunately it would be the Generals adding to their lead. Brassard receiving a cross-ice pass would fire a shot from a sharp angle to beat Propp over the shoulder and regain their two-goal lead.
Late in the third the Colts would begin to mount the pressure.
After Brodeur would make a sprawling glove save off a deflected shot from Joey Keane, the rebound would land directly on the stick of Magwood. He banged home his second of the game and 18th of the season to make it a one goal game once again.
The Colts would pull Propp with 1:40 remaining in the game for the extra attacker, but the Generals with 55 seconds remaining would ice it, as Jack Studnicka would deposit it into the empty cage.
Up next the Colts will travel to Mississauga to face the Steelheads on Friday night before playing their final game of the season on Saturday night at the Barrie Molson Centre when the Kingston Frontenacs roll into town.
