Anthony Romani Nets Overtime Winner As Barrie Beats Sarnia 4-3
By Carl Chimenti
Anthony Romani (Vancouver Canucks) scored the overtime winner at 1:36 and the Barrie Colts (40-21-2-2) completed the late comeback to hand the Sarnia Sting (21-31-6-7) a tough 4-3 loss Saturday night, at the Sadlon Arena.
The Sting seemed to be in control until the final minute. The Colts pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker with 59 seconds left and it paid off as Kashawn Aitcheson scored the equalizer at 19:06 to send the game into overtime. Romani wasted little time as he found the back of the net for the game winner at 1:36. Aitcheson was named the first star and Romani, the second star.
Sting goaltender Evan Maillet was superb, especially in the third period, as he made save after save, which included his best stop, at the mid-way point, robbing Owen Van Steensel point blank, in front of the net. Maillet finished with 35 saves on 39 shots and was selected as the third star. Zach Filak and Easton Wainwright had a goal and an assist. It was Filak’s 13th and Wainwright’s 16th of the year. Daylen Moses scored his 11th of the season and Beckham Edwards along with Hughston Hurt added single assists. Edwards ran his current point streak to three games (3-2-5).
Barrie out-shot Sarnia 39-30. There were only three minor infractions called and all went the way of the Sting, and all three power-plays came in the first period with Sarnia going 1/3. Barrie did not have a single man-advantage in the game.
The overtime loss gave Sarnia 55 points and left them tied with Owen Sound for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Both teams have three games remaining this season.
The Soo won tonight and they leap frogged into the seventh spot. They have just three games remaining on their schedule.
Sarnia got off to a quick lead as Filak opened the scoring at the 48 second mark. Filak’s shot was on goal and Sam Hillebrandt made the save, but the puck had enough momentum and trickled into the net. Wainwright drew the only assist. Barrie evened the score at 1-1 on a goal from Van Steensel at 12:18 from both Dalyn Wakely (Edmonton Oilers) and Romani.
The Sting regained the lead as Wainwright scored from Filak, on the power-play, at 14:56. Moses increased Sarnia’s lead to 3-1 after he deflected an Edwards shot into the back of the net at 17:41. Edwards and Hurt were credited with the assists. Sarnia out-shot Barrie 14-11. Goaltending was the story in the second period as both netminders came up with some real good quality saves. Maillet was the busier of the two goalies as he stopped 13 of 14 shots. The only goal came at 11:44 as Emil Hemming (Dallas Stars) pulled Barrie to within one goal at 3-2.
Cole Beaudoin (Utah Hockey Club) and Brad Gardiner (Dallas Stars) assisted on the goal. Hillebrandt faced only 8 shots, stopping them all. Both teams played penalty free hockey in the middle frame. Barrie out-shot Sarnia 14-8.
