Colts 5-game win streak snapped with 4-2 loss to Whalers
Heading into the weekend playing their first of three games, the Barrie Colts welcomed the Plymouth Whalers to the Barrie Molson Centre. Coming in to the night, the Colts had won five straight, while the Whalers have struggled, losing their last seven.
Tonight though, the Colts were unable to get the win, and fell 4-2 to the Whalers. Last season, the Colts came out on top of the two-game series between the two teams, but in their first meeting this season, they couldn’t beat Whalers goalie, Zack Bowman, to get the win.
Andrew Mangiapane and Rasmus Andersson each had a goal and an assist tonight, while Kevin Labanc also added an assist.
The Colts opened up the scoring on the power play when Mangiapane put home his 19th of the season. Rasmus Andersson got the puck to Mangiapane who was going down the left side, and Mangiapane ripped it past Zack Bowman to give the Colts an early lead.
The Colts started the second period with that 1-0 lead, but were unable to hold on to it. The Whalers would score three unanswered goals in the second period to take a 3-1 lead over the Colts. The Whalers put home two quick goals, only 30 seconds apart, from Mathew Campagna and Jacob Collins. Campagna’s goal was his 11th goal of the season, and was assisted by Will Bitten and Mathieu Henderson, while Collin’s was his first OHL goal, assisted from Tyler Sensky.
Less than four minutes later, the Whalers would add their third goal of the game when Bitten put home a one-timer from Vincent Scognamiglio. Despite outshooting the Whalers 12-10 in the second period alone, the Colts were unable to capitalize on their chances. Through two periods, the Colts went 1 for 5 on the power play, but did draw a four-minute power play that would carry over in to the third period.
Starting the third period on the power play, the Colts were unable to beat Bowman. But in the last 3 minutes of the game, on the power play again, the Colts were able to make it a one-goal game with just over 2 minutes left. Labanc made a cross-ice pass to Mangiapane who touched it back to Andersson on the point. Andersson ripped a slap shot top shelf for his 5th goal of the season.
Despite pulling Mackenzie Blackwood in the dying minutes of the game, the Colts were unable to capitalize, and the Whalers added an empty net goal from Cullen Mercer to make it a 4-2 game.
After tonight, Mangiapane has registered a point in each of the last six games the Colts have played. He has tallied 6 goals and 4 assists during that time. Labanc will also extend his point-streak to 16 games, dating back to November 1st.
The Colts went 2 for 7 on the power play tonight, while not allowing any man advantage opportunities for the Whalers.
This is the third weekend of the season that the Colts will be playing 3 games in a row. Both previous times the Colts lost their first games and went on to win their second games.
The Colts are now 16-12-1-1 on the season, and head out on the road to face the Sudbury Wolves tomorrow night at 7:30pm. The Colts will be back at the Barrie Molson Centre Saturday night to take on the Ottawa 67s before the Christmas Break. Click here for tickets.
