IceDogs Drop Colts 5-1
The Barrie Colts traveled to Niagara to face the IceDogs for the second time in a week Thursday night for their sixth game of the season.
Contrary to their previous meeting this season, the Colts were only able to score 1 goal in Thursday’s game as they fell 5-1 to the IceDogs.
Julius Nattinen scored his first career OHL goal in the Colts loss, while Andrew Mangiapane and Kevin Labanc each grabbed an assist, extending their point streaks to three games. Ruan Badenhorst started his first game in goal this season for the Colts.
Before the halfway mark of the first period, the Colts already found themselves down 2-0. 7:40 into the period, Brenden Perlini put one past Badenhorst with the assists going to Josh Ho-Sang and Mikkel Aagaard. Less than a minute later, the IceDogs extended their lead to 2-0 with Matt Gillard’s second goal of the season, with an assist from Johnny Corneil.
Despite having two power play opportunities in the first period, the Colts were unable to get up on the board. Shots were 7 to 5 in favour of the Colts through the first 20 minutes of play.
Opening the second period, the IceDogs added their third goal of the game when Jordan Maletta intercepted a Colts pass and went on a breakaway to score his second goal of the season on the penalty kill. Maletta’s goal was the first short-handed goal the Colts gave up this season, and it was unassisted.
After Lemieux drew a four minute power play for the Colts, Nattinen scored his first OHL goal 5:34 into the period. Labanc got the puck to Mangiapane just to the right of IceDogs goalie, Brent Moran, and Mangiapane made a great cross crease pass to Nattinen. Nattinen, an Anaheim Ducks prospect, scored his first goal of the season when he one timed Mangiapane’s pass home. Nattinen’s first goal would add to his four assists so far on the season, for five points in four games, making it a 3-1 game.
Nattinen’s power play goal was less than a minute into the four-minute power play, and the Colts remained on the power play, but couldn’t add another goal.
The second half of the second period would see the IceDogs extend their lead with two more goals. Both goals would come from Perlini, and would give him his first hat trick of the season. Perlini’s second goal of the night came at 10:15 of the period on the power play with assists to Vince Dunn and Anthony DiFruscia, and his third came at 17:25. Aagaard and Ho-Sang had the assists. Perlini’s two goals would give the IceDogs a 5-1 lead to end the second period.
Neither team would find the back of the net in the third period, but the IceDogs outshot the Colts 14 to 5 in the period. In the last 30 seconds, Badenhorst made a huge sage on Aagaard breaking in and attempting a great fake. Paquette was in the slot too and all over the rebound, but Badenhorst stayed strong and shut the door in the dying seconds of the game. For Badenhorst’s first start in goal for the Colts this season, he faced 30 shots and stopped 25 of them. The Colts were only able to get 17 shots on net in the loss.
Both teams were able to capitalize on the power play, with the Colts going 1 for 6 on their opportunities, and the IceDogs going 1 for 4.
The Colts are back in action on Saturday night when they return home to face the Ottawa 67’s. In their second game of the regular season, the Colts faced the 67’s and blanked them 4-0. For tickets to Saturday night’s game, visit the BMC Box Office or www.ticketbreak.com.
