Attack Can’t Handle Colts

For the last time this season, the Colts traveled to Owen Sound to take on the Attack. So far this season, the Colts have been able to win every meeting between the teams, and looked to continue that trend Wednesday night.

The Colts would get off to a quick start in Owen Sound, mirroring their previous five meetings against the Attack. So far this season, the Colts have not fallen to the Attack, with the closest contest coming back in October. They had an explosive first period, putting up four goals and chasing the Attack starting goalie, Michael McNiven from the goal after scoring three quick ones. The Colts would end up scoring four more times, while only allowing one Attack goal en route to an 8-1 win.

The Colts had eight different goal scorers in the game and 13 different players recording at least one point. Andrew Mangiapane recorded a goal and 3 assists, while Dylan Sadowy, Rasmus Andersson and Adrian Carbonara each recorded a goal and an assist in the win. Roy Radke, Keigan Goetz, Greg DiTomaso and Anthony Stefano all recorded a goal for the Colts, and Ben Hawerchuk, Justin Scott, Michael Webster and Julius Nattinen each tallied an assist. Kevin Labanc recorded two assists in the win, extending his point streak to eight games and earning a franchise record.

The Colts would find the back of the net 2:50 into the first period. After the Attack were looking to breakout of their zone, Radke forced the forecheck and had the pass hit his skate. The puck deflected to Carbonara waiting in the slot and he made no mistake, beating McNiven for his 7^th goal of the season.

Then, less than four minutes later, the Colts would strike again. Mangiapane got the puck to up to Sadowy, and sprung Sadowy and Andersson on a 2 on 1. Sadowy fed a pass across the slot to Andersson, and he made no mistake, burying his second goal in two games, extending his point streak to 6 games, and Mangiapane extended his point streak to 8 games.

Midway through the frame, the Attack had their best chance of the period, but Blackwood shut the door, making consecutive saves in tight. After that, with under five minutes to play in the first frame, the Colts would double their lead to 4-0.

Radke would make it 3-0 when he came out of the Attack corner and made a fake to the right of McNiven. He outwaited McNiven as he came out above the blue paint, and after showing some great patience; Radke fired home his 18^th of the season. Carbonara was also credited with an assist.

With their third goal of the game, the Attack were forced to change their goaltending situation, but that wouldn’t stop the Colts. With 2:07 remaining in the period, the Colts would once again jump on an odd man break as Hawerchuk and Goetz broke into the Attack zone. Hawerchuk made a great pass across to Goetz who was being tied up, but still was able to fire home his 9^th goal of the season.

Shots would be similar in the first period, with the Colts narrowly outshooting the Attack 18-17.

Only two minutes into the second period, the Attack would get a great chance when they were sprung on a breakaway. Once again though, Blackwood would shut the door, keeping it 4-0.

Not long after, the Colts would extend their lead to 5-0 when Sadowy would snipe his 40^th goal of the season. This is Sadowy’s second season in a row scoring more than 40 goals. Hawerchuk and Andersson had the assists of Sadowy’s 40^th.

Then, Mangiapane put home a cross-ice feed from scott 10:20 into the period to score his 47^th goal of the season. Webster also assisted on Mangiapane’s goal. With his 47th goal, Mangiapane finds himself second in the league for goals, trailing London’s Christian Dvorak who leads the league with 49 goals. 

Just under two minutes later, the Colts would extend their lead to 7-0 when Stefano tapped home his 20^th goal of the season. Brassard got the puck down low to Labanc, and Labanc fired a shot pass through the slot of which Stefano was able to put past Dekoning. With the assist, Labanc brought his season point total within 1 point of the current franchise record of 121 points, held by Sheldon Keefe.

The Colts outshot the Attack 9-6 through the middle 20 minutes.

The third period would stay scoreless until 13:23 into the period when DiTomaso would score his third goal of the season. The assists on the Colts 8^th goal of the game went to Webster and Labanc. With that assist, Labanc officially tied the Colts franchise season record for points, earning his 121^st point of the season.

The Attack would finally get on the board with 1:53 remaining in the period on their second man advantage in the last five minutes of the game. Kevin Hancock recorded his 11^th goal of the season with the lone Attack goal of the game. 

8-1 would be as close as the Attack could get it, as the Colts handily walked away with the win. Each team exchanged 11 shots in the third period, with a goal each.

For the first time ever in the season series between the Colts and Attack, the Colts won all 12 points possible. Neither team has ever been able to sweep the six game series, until now. In the 2010-2011 season, the Attack did win all six contests, but the Colts pushed the Attack to an overtime game, giving the Colts a point.

With a goal and an assist in the win, Andersson surpasses Cam Dineen from North Bay as the highest point generator for a defenseman in the league. Andersson now sits at 59 points, while Dineen is at 58. 

Wednesday night’s game saw each team go 1 for 2 on their power play opportunities, with the Colts outshooting the Attack 39-34.

The Colts are back in action when they travel to Sudbury on Friday night to take on the Wolves. Saturday night, the Colts return to the BMC as they welcome the Peterborough Petes to town for the first and only time this season. For tickets to the game, visit the BMC Box Office or online at www.ticketbreak.com.