Colts Get Back In the Win Column and Take It to the Gens
The Colts looked to end their mini two game skid as they welcomed the Oshawa Generals into town. They hoped to make up ground on the Kingston Frontenacs for the top seed in the East as they came into Saturday night’s game six points back of the Fronts.
Both teams would start their backup goalies as they both played the previous night with the Colts coming from London, while the Generals made their way from Kitchener. David Ovsjannikov would make his 16th appearance for the Colts as he looked to improve upon his 8-3-2-0 record while the Generals went with Justin Nichols.
The Colts would strike first as Cordell James buried his 16th of the year to give Barrie the 1-0 lead. As the Colts came in on the rush, Justin Scott’s shot would be stopped by Nichols, however after a few digs at the loose puck, James would finally connect to beat Nichols as Michael Webster would also record an assist on the tally.
Later in the frame, the Generals would tie it up as Mitchell Vande Sompel would set up Kenny Huether for a one-timer as he blasted it by Ovsjannikov. The goal was Huether’s team leading 23rd of the year as Vande Sompel and Eric Henderson drew assists on the play.
Just as the period was winding down, the Colts would extend their lead as Andrew Mangiapane scored a goal of the year candidate with 36 seconds remaining in the period. As the Colts’ power play was finishing up, Mangiapane would take the puck from David Ovsjannikov and make his way up ice where he danced around the entire Generals’ penalty kill before out-waiting Nichols and going top shelf. The beauty from Mangiapane was his 42nd of the season as Ovsjannikov picked up the lone assists.
The Colts led after the first period 2-1 as they out-shot Oshawa 13-9.
The Colts would only need 2:05 in the second period to lengthen their lead to two as Rasmus Andersson would feed an open Dylan Sadowy who was perfectly positioned to tap it by Nichols to make it 3-1 Colts. The goal was Sadowy’s 34th of the season as Andersson and Justin Scott would be credited with the helpers.
Halfway through the second, the Colts would make it 4-1 as Kevin Labanc would enter the zone and drop it for Michael Webster. Webster wired a slap shot under the glove of Nichols for his 6th of the season, with Labanc drawing the lone assist.
The Generals would answer back quickly though as Eric Henderson would receive the Anthony Cirelli pass and beat Ovsjannikov blocker side to cut the Colts’ lead to 4-2 nearly two minutes later. The goal was Henderson’s 3rd of the year as Cirelli picked up the only assist on the marker.
The Colts entered the third with the 4-2 lead and outshot Oshawa 22-21.
Three minutes into the third period, the Colts would convert on the man advantage to extend their lead to 5-2. After Jalen Smereck was sent off for high-sticking, the top line would come together as Andrew Mangiapane would feed Kevin Labanc who spotted an open Julius Nattinen who wired it past Nichols for his 16th of the season.
Nattinen would bury his second of the game minutes after his first to expand Barrie’s lead to 6-2. As Nattinen streaked towards the Oshawa end, Kevin Labanc would hit Nattinen with an unbelievable saucer pass in stride where Nattinen would go top shelf, over the shoulder of Nichols for his 17th of the season.
David Ovsjannikov would shut the door on any chance of a Generals’ comeback as he stopped 28 of 30 for his 9th win with the Colts and his 11th of the year.
The Colts next home game will take place on February 27th as they play host to the Mississauga Steelheads. Get your tickets now by visiting BMC Box Office or going to www.ticketbreak.com.
