Colts edge out Battalion 3-2 in a physical game
For the second time this season, the Colts welcomed the North Bay Battalion to the Barrie Molson Centre. Before tonight’s game, the Battalion were leading the head-to-head rivalry winning two of the three games played so far this season.
In a physical contest between the two rivals with 29 infractions called throughout the game, the Colts were able to edge out the Battalion, winning 3-2.
Brendan Lemieux, Garrett Hooey and Kevin Labanc would each score for the Colts, while Andrew Mangiapane and Rasmus Andersson each had a pair of assists. With the game-winning goal, Labanc was the second star of the game, while Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 32 shots from the Battalion in his return to the lineup, earning the first star of the game.
The Battalion opened the scoring, notching the only goal of the first period. During the Colts second of six penalties during the period, Nick Paul put home his 15th goal of the season off a give-and-go passing play with Kyle Wood, to give the Battalion a 1-0 lead. The Battalion would take seven penalties of their own during the first period, but the Colts were unable to capitalize on any first period power play opportunities.
The Colts would pull ahead though in the second period after a two-goal showing. After the Battalion’s Brenden Miller took an elbowing penalty on Justin Scott, Miller drew two more misconducts when he high-sticked Joseph Blandisi on the delayed call and Blandisi was bleeding. In total, Miller gave the Colts a six-minute power play with just over five minutes left in the second period.
It would only take the Colts nine seconds of power play time to score their first goal of the game. Andrew Mangiapane got the puck to Rasmus Andersson on the point, and Brendan Lemieux tipped home Andersson’s point shot for his 10th goal of the year. Miller’s 6-minute penalty would subsequently be dropped to 4 minute’s after the Colts goal.
Still on the power play, the Colts would capitalize just 2 minutes and 32 seconds later when Garrett Hooey put home his fifth of the season. Michael Webster got a pass on the point from Mangiapane, and then walked to the middle before firing a shot on net. Through traffic, Hooey was able to find the rebound and put it home to give the Colts their first lead of the game.
Holding on to a 2-1 lead going into the third period, the Colts would give up the only even strength goal of the game just over a minute into the period. After Wood got the puck on the point from Mike Amadio and put the puck on net, Paul put home the rebound for his second goal of the game.
After numerous chances for both teams, the Colts would put home their third power play goal of the game at 13:08 in the third period. Andersson sent the puck up ice to Blandisi who took a check and still managed to get the puck to Kevin Labanc. Labanc was flying down the right side and beat the Battalion defenders, then beat Jake Smith top shelf for the game-winning goal.
Despite being outshot 32-21 over the course of the game, the Colts would hang on for the win. The win moves the Colts to 9-8-1-1 on the season and are 4-3-0-1 on home ice.
The Colts next game is November 22nd at 7:30p.m. as the Peterborough Petes come to town.
