Colts Out Duel IceDogs 4-3
The Barrie Colts hosted division rivals the Niagara IceDogs on Thursday night looking to slow down one of the hottest lines in the OHL. A third period comeback led by a pair of goals from defenceman, saw the Barrie Colts come out on top 4-3 over Niagara.
There was no scoring in the opening frame as both starting goalies, Mackenzie Blackwood and Christopher Festarini were solid at either end.
Late in the period the Colts found themselves shorthanded after taking back-to-back penalties but they managed to kill off both IceDogs power plays. Niagara outshot Barrie 11-8 in the opening twenty minutes.
The game saw its first goal come in the second period when Barrie native Tyson Fawcett scored with the man advantage just two minutes in. Former Barrie Colt Brendan Perlini was assessed a hooking penalty which led to Fawcett one timing home an Erik Bradford pass at the side of the net. Aaron Ekblad was also credited with an assist.
Niagara would tie the game up at 1-1 just minutes later when Jordan Maletta fired a shot that redirected off the Colts defenceman’s stick and beat Blackwood glove side.
Barrie would retake the lead again when Kevin Labanc set up Brendan Lemieux for his fourth tally of the season. At 6:58 Labanc made a beautiful drop pass to a trailing Lemieux who slid the puck home past netminder Christopher Festarini.
Three minor penalties to the Barrie Colts in the final ten minutes of the second period proved costly, as the Niagara IceDogs would capitalize twice to take the 3-2 lead heading into the third period. Anthony DiFruscia and Eric Ming each scored for Niagara as they still held the edge in shots 23-20.
The Colts came out in the final period ready to go to work and they did just that tying the game at 3-3 five minutes in. Forward Mitchell Theoret did some great work down low behind the IceDogs net before passing the puck out to the point to captain Aaron Ekblad. Ekblad let a hard wrist shot go that found it’s way into the back of the net behind Festarini. Michael Webster also picked up an assist.
With just over ten minutes remaining in the hockey game Barrie would jump out to the 4-3 lead on another goal by a defenceman, Michael Webster. Webster ripped home a slap shot from the point low glove side for his second goal of the season. Aaron Ekblad and Brendan Lemieux each had an assist on the goal.
With the net empty in the dying seconds the Niagara IceDogs could not solve the Colts as Barrie held on for the 4-3 win. Mackenzie Blackwood earned his second victory making 30 saves on the night while captain Aaron Ekblad led all players with three points.
The most noticeable line on the ice was the trio of Brendan Lemieux, Kevin Labanc and Tyson Fawcett who chipped in for two of the four Colts goals.
The Barrie Colts (5-6-0-1) will now look to bring their record back to five hundred tomorrow night as they head to the RBC Centre to take on the Sarnia Sting. Game time is 7:05.
Scotiabank 3 Stars
1st Star – Barrie – # 5 Aaron Ekblad
2nd Star – Barrie – # 24 Michael Webster
3rd Star – Barrie – # 13 Tyson Fawcett
