KNIGHTS FIRE 50 SHOTS BUT CAN’T SOLVE COLTS

www.londonknights.com

The Barrie Colts managed to hang on for a 4-3 win over the Knights on Friday night in London as the Knights poured 50 shots on the Barrie net, only to come up one goal shy.

The game saw its share of minor penalties and video reviews.There were a total of 20 power plays in the game, ten aside.

The Knights and Colts were on the ice for one of the most famous video reviews in OHL history as the OHL Championship was decided by a signal to centre ice from referee Kendrick Nicholson in 2013.

On Friday night, two of the first three goals needed extra attention from replay.  Like, Bo Horvat’s winner a year and a bit earlier, both counted.

The first came on a 4-on-4 situation at 7:22 of the first period as Garrett Hooey wrapped the puck off the pad of London goalie, Tyler Parsons and just inside the goal line for Hooey’s first of the year and a 1-0 Colts’ lead.

The teams each had 15 shots through the first 20 minutes.  Parsons made 14 saves, including one on a penalty shot by Brendan Lemieux.

Those minor penalties continued into the second period as well and would factor into the next three goals of the game.  Joseph Blandisi found Hooey for his second of the game at 2:38 of the second.

Less than two minutes later, video review would be needed on a Knights’ goal as the puck was passed around by four London Knights’ sticks and then chipped in front where Christian Dvorak redirected it past Barrie goalie, Mackenzie Blackwood to cut Barrie’s lead in half.

Another Colts’ power play put them back up by two as Rasmus Andersson sent a seeing eye wrister into the London net at 14:03.

Both Parsons and Blackwood made highlight reel saves at either end of the ice and set up a very interesting third.

Another power play opportunity allowed the Knights to get close again as Matt Rupert knocked a rebound past Blackwood.

The Colts managed to kill two Knights’ power plays and then got some help from two late London penalties that gave Barrie a 5 on 3 with just over two minutes remaining and Rasmus Andersson managed to score his second of the game.

The Knights would not go away as they pulled the goalie, got the puck into Barrie territory and jammed in a goal to cut the Colts’ lead to 4-3.

London got the puck into the Barrie end, and got a shot away before the Colts managed to gain possession and hang on for the win.