Blandisi nets winner, Colts top Wolves 4-3 in overtime
The Colts welcomed conference rival, the Sudbury Wolves, to town on Saturday night for the third match up between the two teams this season. So far this season, the Colts have taken all possible four points, leading the season series 2-0.
Regulation wouldn’t be enough to decide tonight’s game, but 33 seconds of overtime would solve it when Joseph Blandisi put home his 15th goal of the season. Blandisi would earn the first star of the game, while Kevin Labanc would be second star after scoring two goals. Blandisi and Labanc would each extend their current point streak to 5 and 4 games respectively. Meanwhile, Justin Scott would also add a goal for the Colts in tonight’s win.
The Wolves opened the scoring just under five minutes in to the first period. Cole Mayo fed the puck to Nathan/ Pancel who broke down the left side. Pancel fired a wrist shot that beat Mackenzie Blackwood glove side for his 13th goal of the season.
The Colts would get on the board at 16:13 after a power play goal from Kevin Labanc. After Blackwood stopped an initial Wolves rush, Andrew Mangiapane got the puck up to Labanc who was breaking in the Wolves zone. Labanc faked out the Wolves defense, and put it past Troy Timpano. The Colts tying goal would be Labanc’s seventh of the season, and Blackwood’s second career OHL assist.
The first half of the second period would put the Wolves ahead by two goals. Less than two minutes in to the period, the Wolves netted their first of two goals after Danny Desrochers found the rebound and put it home. Pavel Jenys and Nathan Pancel assisted on the Wolves goal. The Wolves extended their lead to 3-1 at 8:04 of the second frame when Matt Schmalz scored his 12th goal of the season. Schmalz deked around Blackwood and put home a backhand shot for the unassisted goal.
After giving up three goals, the Colts pulled Blackwood and put Daniel Gibl in net just before the halfway mark of the period.
The Colts would answer back just a minute and a half later when Justin Scott broke in over the blue line, cut through the slot then ripped a backhand past Timpano. Ben Hawerkchuk assisted on Scott’s 12th goal of the season, bringing the Colts within one.
At 13:57 of the period, the Colts would tie the game up at 3-3 when Labanc worked his way in to the Wolves zone, toe dragged around a Wolves defenseman and pulled it in for a wrist shot, going right over Timpano’s glove. The unassisted goal would be Labanc’s second goal of the game, and his third multi-goal game of the season.
The Colts dominated the majority of the third period, outshooting the Wolves 14-5, but unfortunately weren’t able to capitalize on their chances. Regulation ended in a 3-3 tie, and overtime was needed.
It only took the Colts 33 seconds to solidify the win, when Blandisi broke up a pass from the Wolves and shot low blocker side for his 15th of the season. So far this season, Blandisi has a goal and two assists against the Wolves.
The Colts went 1 for 5 on their power play opportunities on the night, but shut the door on the Wolves lone power play. Gibl, who played just over 32 minutes in the game, finished with 6 saves on the night to earn the victory.
The Colts are back on the road tomorrow to take on the Oshawa Generals. The Colts opened up their regular season against the Generals and fell 5-2, and haven’t met since.
Next Thursday, December 4th the Colts will be back home at the Barrie Molson Centre for Monte Carlo Teddy Bear Toss night as they host the Mississauga Steelheads.
