Colts Frost Bitten by Wolves
The Sudbury Wolves scored three quick goals in the span of three minutes in the opening period and take a 4-2 victory Friday night at the Sudbury Community Arena.
Midway through the first period the Wolves would jump to a 3-0 lead on the heels of Dmitri Sokolov’s 43rd and 44th goals of the season to be the difference maker.
The Barrie Colts traveled north to Sudbury on another snowy evening to take on the Wolves for the final time this season.
Coming into this game the Colts would look to build on a strong one-goal loss the night before that could have easily gone either way, but knew it was going to be tough against an opponent in the Wolves who have had their number all season long.
The game would begin rather quietly with neither team creating many chances playing a tight checking game, much different than the previous game between these two teams, which ended in a heated affair.
Midway through the opening frame the Colts would get their first opportunity on the powerplay as Roy Radke was hauled down on a drive to the wolves net and moments later the Wolves would get caught again to give the Colts a 5 on 3 advantage, but the Colts could not convert any serious chances.
That Wolves kill would lead to the three-goal outburst putting the Colts in a deficit that would prove to be too much to overcome.
At 13:05, the Wolves first goal of the game would come off the stick of Sokolov. Grabbing the loose puck in the slot and using his patience, he skated wide to out wait Colts starting goalie Ruan Badenhorst and fired a shot to give the Wolves the lead.
Minutes later it would be Barrie native Macauley Carson adding to the Wolves count. Shane Bulitka would break through the Barrie defenders leaving Carson all alone to tip home the cross crease pass and increase the lead to two.
With just under four minutes remaining in the first Sudbury would continue to press. Wolves captain Kyle Capobianco would send one on goal and Sokolov would tip home the point shot to give the Wolves the 3-0 lead into the first intermission.
The lively end boards of the Sudbury arena would show themselves early on in the second period. As Liam Dunda threw a shot wide of the Barrie goal it would deflect straight back into the crease, but Badenhorst would quickly lay out to cover the puck before crossing the goal line.
The sparks would begin to fly between the two rivals as the physical and chippy play would ramp up.
Justin Murray would attempt to light a fire under the Colts dropping the gloves with Chandler Yakimowicz, but just moments later as Michael Pezzetta exited the penalty box his shot would handcuff Badenhorst with the puck trickling over the line spelling the end to Badenhorst’s night. David Ovsjannikov would come on in relief.
Sudbury would continue to take undisciplined penalties in their own end giving the Colts numerous two-man advantage opportunities to break the ice.
Finally with just under two minutes remaining in the second Joey Keane would blast a one timer past Wolves starting goaltender Jake McGrath to break the shutout for his first career OHL goal. Assists going to Anthony Stefano and Tom Hedberg on the milestone.
Another rash of penalties would finish off the second and the Wolves would carry the 4-1 lead into the final period.
Early in the third the Colts would put the pressure on and attempt to claw back in this one.
At the four minute mark the Colts would cut the lead in half. Anthony Stefano would find Lucas Chiodo all alone to the side of the Sudbury goal and he buried his 21st of the season.
That would be it for Barrie though as the Wolves goaltender would take care of business the rest of the way and shutdown any comeback from the Colts offense.
The boys will return home tomorrow night to host another central division rival the North Bay Battalion. Puck drops at 7:30pm at the Barrie Molson Centre. Tickets still available at www.barriecolts.com
