Sokolov’s Hat Trick Leads Colts to 4-3 Victory
Dmitry Sokolov would score the go ahead goal midway through the final period earning himself the hat trick leading the Barrie Colts to a 4-3 victory over the Flint Firebirds Saturday night.
The Colts were looking to bounce back after a tough loss the night before in Mississauga returning home and back to the win column on another snowy Saturday night at the Molson Centre.
Aaron Luchuk would add three helpers and Andrei Svechnkov would pick up a pair of his own as both players extended their point streaks to 11 games.
The Firebirds would open up the scoring just past the midway point of the first.
Max Kislinger would streak in off the left wing and fire a low shot under the pad of Colts rookie netminder Kai Edmonds.
Just a minute later the Colts would storm right back.
Ryan Suzuki and Lucas Chiodo would find themselves breaking in on a 2 on 1, Suzuki would slide a perfect pass over to Chiodo to one time his 19th by Garrett Forrest to tie things up. Ben Hawerchuck would also assist on the play.
Just 20 seconds later the top line would chip in for one of their own to quickly put Barrie in the lead.
Svechnikov would keep the puck in the offensive zone moving the puck up to Luchuk who would feed a wide open Sokolov in the right circle to snap home his 32nd of the season to make it 2-1.
Late in the second period the Colts would run into penalty trouble finding themselves down two men.
Maurizio Colella would take advantage of the open ice and even things up snapping one past Edmonds from the top of the circle.
Once again the goals would come quick. While still on the man advantage just 33 seconds later Flint would take the lead back. Fedor Gordeev would send a shot from the point. Edmonds would make the initial save but the puck would come loose for C.J. Clarke to tap in to make it 3-2.
The Colts would lead the shots almost doubling up the Firebirds 28-16, but would head into the third down by one.
The boys would come out firing and less than three minutes into the third the top line would strike again for the Colts.
Joey Keane and Luchuk would cycle the puck down low before finding Sokolov out front to bang home his second of the game and 33rd of the season to tie things back up at three.
The Colts would keep the pressure coming throughout the period and with just over seven minutes remaining Sokolov would make it a hat trick.
Svechnikov would slide it to Sokolov flying off the right wing into the Firebirds zone and would make a beautiful backhand toe drag move around a defender roofing a shot under the bar past Forrest for his 34th to take the lead back. Luchuk would pick up his third assist of the game.
The Firebirds would pull the goalie late putting the pressure on but would be to no avail as the Colts would hold on to take the victory.
The Colts next game will be on the road as they will travel to Flint for a Valentine’s Day rematch Wednesday night. Barrie’s next home game will be Saturday February 17th versus the Central Division rival Niagara Icedogs for a 7:30pm puckdrop at the Molson Centre.
Tickets for all upcoming Barrie Colts home games can be purchased online, by calling 1-888-655-9090, or in person at the Colts Store located inside the Barrie Molson Centre.
