COLTS IN KITCHENER TONIGHT
Despite firing only 13 shots on goal in the first two periods, the Barrie Colts managed to hold a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes in Kitchener Friday night. The Rangers, however, would strike for four goals in 4:25 in the third period and suddenly held a 6-3 lead.
The Rangers continued to dominate the shot-clock in the final frame, posting eleven on goal before Barrie registered their first. Luckily for the Colts that shot was a Colin Behenna goal. The first of two straight for the Colts, who suddenly made it a game again. But, the Rangers responded with their seventh goal of the evening, in a wild seven-goal third period.
Darren Archibald continued his good start by scoring at the 9:06 mark of the opening period, giving the Colts a 1-0 lead after the first, Steven Beyers picked up the lone assist.
The Colts scored roughly four minutes apart in the second period after Kitchener tied the game on a Tobias Rieder goal. Tanner Pearson scored his first of the season after a great game in Belleville Wednesday night. Colin Behenna then tallied his first of the year, giving Barrie a 3-1 lead. Moments later Rieder would score again, cutting the Barrie lead to one goal.
Jason Akeson led the Kitchener assault in the third, scoring his first goal 45 seconds in, and adding his second 18 seconds later. Barrie was unable to recover from Akeson’s second and third goals of the season, and allowed a total of four goals by the 5:10 mark of the period.
The Colts continued to work hard under coach Hawerchuk and bounced back with two goals to make it 6-5 Rangers. Behenna scored his second of the game, and the season, giving him a team-high ten points. His goal was the first or back-to-back power play goals for Barrie, as Archibald notched his fourth in two games to cut the lead to one.
Kitchener would add a late goal to make it a 7-5 final.
Ryan Murphy came in to the game leading the Rangers in scoring with nine points, and added to that total with a goal and three helpers. Jason Akeson and Matia Marcantuoni each had three-point nights for Kitchener.
Archibald, Behenna, Mark Scheifele, Steven Beyers and newly named captain Dalton Prout all had two-point perfomances for the Colts. Peter Di Salvo allowed six goals on 35 shots, Brandon Maxwell replaced Mike Morrison and gets the win for the Rangers.
Barrie returns home Saturday to take on the Niagara IceDogs at 7:30 p.m.
