Ailing Colts Let One Slip Away
The Barrie Colts couldn’t seem to recover after giving up goals to Zach Poirier and Jacob Ball, 15 seconds apart, as they fell to the North Bay Battalion 5-2 Saturday evening.
After a tough road trip, the team was in dire need of a good start out of the gate in what was their first home game in two weeks.
David Ovsjannikov did his best to ensure his team wouldn’t allow an opening-minute goal for the second straight game.
Brett McKenzie’s point shot got through a crowd, but the rebound bounced to Steve Harland who had a wide-open cage. Ovsjannikov got across to make a pad save to deny a Battalion goal in the first fifteen seconds.
At 6:23, on a delayed penalty coming to the Colts, Harland sent a pass to McKenzie on the half-wall, who then set up Maurizo Colella for a one-timer and the game’s first goal.
Kirill Nizhnikov nearly tied the game with a wrist shot from the right wing. Battalion goalie, Brent Moran, made the save but lost the puck in his pads, only to have it sit in the crease unclaimed for a few seconds before eventually covering it up. He made 41 saves in the victory.
In what may have been the team’s best period in four games, the Colts finally capitalized when Lucas Chiodo buried a rebound past Moran at 10:06. Christopher Cameron’s low shot was deflected by Adrian Carbonara high in the slot before Chiodo tied the game 1-1.
After dominating the first half of the second period, a cross-checking penalty gave the Battalion the chance they needed to swing momentum back in their favour.
Once the Battalion unleashed their fifteen-second onslaught, the Colts managed to get one back after a power play of their own had just expired.
Jason Willms jumped all over a rebound after Justin Murray let a shot go from the point at 13:49 to make it 3-2.
Just as it seemed the Colts had regained momentum, Stan Butler’s club showed why they’re one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
Three minutes later, the Battalion restored their two-goal advantage after Cam Dineen walked out from the behind the net and put one past Ovsjannikov from just inside the hash marks.
Despite outshooting the visitors 36-28 after two periods, the Colts entered the final frame down 4-2.
They managed a few scoring chances in the final period, but the missing presence of veteran Cordell James was evident Saturday night.
The captain, out with an undisclosed injury, joined an increasing list of Colts injuries this season, which includes Roy Radke, a potent offensive threat as well.
Sudbury comes to town next Thursday for the second game of a three-game home stand.
Game time is 7:30p.m.
