Barrie Beats Sarnia 3-2 with Over-Time Power Play Goal
By Carl Chimenti
The Barrie Colts scored three unanswered goals, highlighted by the overtime winner on the power-play from Evan Vierling (New York Rangers) and beat the Sarnia Sting 3-2 on Saturday night at the Sadlon Arena, in Barrie, Ontario.
Sarnia provided their only offense in the first period with a pair of goals only to see the Colts rally for the win in the extra session with the Sting down a man short, due to a double minor for high sticking that was called with less than two minutes to go in the game.
Marcus Limpar-Lantz and Lukas Fischer with his first career OHL goal in just his second game with Sarnia, was all the Sting could muster despite out-shooting the Colts by a wide margin of 38-28.
Nolan Burke (Nashville Predators) provided an assist on Fischer’s goal before he took a big hit at center-ice from Connor Punnett that knocked him out of the game.
This was a goaltending clinic by both netminders, who came up with good quality saves. Ben Gaudreau (San Jose Sharks), who turned in an outstanding effort in last night’s win over Windsor was even better tonight with 25 saves, while former Sting goaltender Anson Thornton (Arizona Coyotes) stopped 36 shots.
Jacob Frasca scored the tying goal in the third period and also added an assist to lead the Colt attack.
Sarnia scored twice in the opening period. Limpar-Lantz opened the scoring with an unassisted goal at 1:19. The puck took a favorable bounce of the back boards and came directly to Limpar-Lantz, who was at the side of the net and he deposited the puck past Thornton for his fifth goal of the season.
The Sting scored their second goal at 7:44 on a shot from the point by Fischer. The puck seemed to have eyes, going through a maze of players in front of the net. Limpar-Lantz and Burke assisted with the helpers. The two teams each had eight shots on goal.
Gaudreau held the Colts at bay with timely saves in the second period but Barrie broke through at 16:25 on a goal from Beau Jelsma, who beat Gaudreau top shelf, from Roenick Jodoin. Sarnia out-shot Barrie 16-10 and held a one goal lead going into the final twenty minutes of regulation time.
Punnett was the third star followed by Limpar-Lantz as the second star and overtime hero Vierling was named as the first star.
Sarnia will finish off their mini two game road trip with a Sunday afternoon (2pm) tilt against the Oshawa Generals, that will feature Sarnia’s Ethan Ritchie and brother Calum Ritchie for the Generals going head to head.
