Brown’s Milestone Night Stifles Spitfires
The Barrie Colts welcomed in the Windsor Spitfires on Saturday night looking to extend their win streak to three.
However, the Spitfires struck in the opening minute. They hemmed the Colts in their own zone for the first forty seconds and capitalized on the early chance. Igor Afanasyev walked to the left-wing side and wired one past Arturs Silovs. Former Barrie Colt Curtis Douglas picked up the primary assist on the goal.
The visitors continued to pour it on. Off a Colts turnover, Luke Boka walked in and fired a harmless-looking shot that may have been deflected past Silovs. His 17th of the season gave the Spitfires a quick 2-0 lead.
The Colts came to life halfway through the first when Nicholas Porco burst down the far wing, drove the net, bowled over Windsor netminder Kari Piiroinen, tracked down a loose puck and found Foerster, who went bar-down on Piiroinen for his 32nd of the season to cut the lead in half.
The Colts would then get the benefit of a power-play looking to tie the game. After a rather uninspiring start to the man advantage, they finally got their set-up. Nathan Allensen found Ethan Cardwell in the left-hand dot. His slapper was tipped home by Aidan Brown for his 16th of the year, and the game was knotted at two after 20.
Just beyond the halfway point of the second period, the Spitfires re-took the lead. Will Cuyile had his initial bid denied by Silovs. The rebound came back in front and Tyler Angle had two whacks at it before beating Silovs for his 27th of the year.
Barrie would come back to tie things up less than two minutes later, Brown’s shot from the slot popped up off Piiroinen’s glove and up in the air, Jacob Frasca had a chance to pot the loss puck, but failed. Victor Hadfield, however, would put it past Piiroinen, who was still out of position, for his 8th on the campaign. Brown’s assist was good for his 100th career OHL point, and he was not finished yet.
He would get point No. 101 just 13 seconds later. The Colts won the draw and immediately had a 2-on-1. Anthony Tabak found Brown down the right-wing side, he moved in and fired one five-hole on Piiroinen for his second on the night and 17th on the year to give the Colts their first lead of the night on just their 10th shot. That marker sent Piiroinen to the showers, as Xavier Medina came in between the pipes for Windsor.
Barrie would continue to apply pressure late in the period, spending close to two minutes in the offensive zone, but were unable to beat Medina, and took a 4-3 lead to the dressing room after two.
After a short delay precipitated by a false fire alarm in the building, the 3rd got under way. Barrie was on the penalty kill thanks to a Frasca roughing minor at the 20-minute mark of the second, but Beeton native Connor Corcoran took a slashing penalty 33 seconds into the frame, bringing some 4-on-4 hockey.
Back to 5-on-5, the Colts added to their lead. Nelson had the puck knocked off his stick near the blue-line right onto the tape of Brown. He strode in and wired one blocker side on Medina to complete the hat-trick and put the Colts up 5-3 on his 18th of the season and fourth point of the night.
Windsor nearly responded right back with a couple of chances, but Silovs stood tall on both. First, he robbed Afansyev with a terrific pad save, and then stoned Boka by snaring his wrister out of the air to keep his team up by a pair.
Both teams had some quality chances throughout the remainder of the third. Barrie’s two best came, first, courtesy of a breakaway for Cardwell, who blocked a point shot and raced onto the puck but was unable to score his second of the night. Then, from the boards, Nelson spotted Tabak in front, but he, too, was denied by Medina.
The Colts survived a late power-play from Windsor, and despite being more than doubled in shots – 44-21 – took a 5-3 victory. This win, the Colts’ third straight, moves them into a tie with idle Sudbury for top spot in the Central Division with 59 points.
Barrie wraps its busy week with a matinee matchup tomorrow in Mississauga against the Steelheads before returning to the Colts Centre Thursday night to entertain Niagara.
Tickets for that game can be purchased here.
