David Ovsjannikov Shines in Home Opener Loss to Knights
Noah Bennett’s power-play marker 5:03 into the third proved to be the difference as the London Knights spoiled the Barrie Colts’ 2016-17 home opener with a 3-1 victory.
Prior to the loss, the Colts not only made their way home with a 2-0-1 record, but their home debut at the Barrie Molson Centre was accompanied by a sparkling-new light show display.
The real show however, came from the likes of David Ovsjannikov and the penalty kill throughout the game. The Rochester, MI native made 32 saves throughout the game and played a crucial role in killing 10 of 12 Colts penalties to weather the early storm.
Matt Brassard’s holding penalty 15:28 into the first marked the Colts’ fourth consecutive trip to the box. Like the three previous visits, Dale Hawerchuk’s team managed to remain unscathed. With a 90.9-percent success rate heading into Saturday’s tilt, the Colts managed to stifle a Knights’ squad early, who struggled with the man advantage (0-16) in their first-three games.
Ian Blacker took an interference penalty 5:13 into the middle frame, giving the Colts a prime opportunity to open the scoring. It was the Knights however, that took advantage despite being a man down. Alex Formenton skated down the right wing and fired the shorthanded goal over Ovsjannikov’s glove. The Colts ensured the lead was short lived. Captain Cordell James walked out of the corner 41 seconds later and slipped his third goal of the season between Tyler Johnson’s pads.
Despite being called for nine penalties through the first-two periods, the Colts managed their best chance of the game when a centring pass found its way out to Jason Willms alone in the slot – forcing Johnson to make his most difficult of 19 saves throughout the evening.
JJ Piccinich scored his first goal, on the power play, and notched his second point of the night with just over seven minutes to go in the third to give the Knights their much-needed insurance marker.
The loss drops the Colts to 2-1-1.
The Colts will continue their three-game home stand next Thursday, October 6 @ 7:30p.m., when the Sudbury Wolves visit BMC.
Some tickets still available:
Please check https://barriecolts.ticketpro.ca/?server=ww2&lang=en&aff=bc#def_1128050376 for more information.
