The Barrie Colts will head on the road in a deep hole in the Ontario Hockey League’s Eastern Conference final against the Niagara IceDogs.
After giving up three goals in 68 seconds to lose game one 3-2 on Thursday night, the Colts dropped a 4-1 decision at the Barrie Molson Centre Saturday night.
The team now heads on the road for game three while trailing the best-of-7 series 2-0.
“I wasn’t happy with the way we were executing our game plan,” said Colts Coach Dale Hawerchuk.
Stephen Harper had a goal and an assist for the IceDogs.
Anthony DiFruscia, Brendan Perlini and Graham Knott had the other Niagara goals.
Knott’s goal came just under five minutes after Andrew Mangiapane pulled the Colts to within one early in the third period.
“We know this was going to be a dog fight,” said Niagara Coach Marty Williamson. “To get that third goal, it gave us some breathing room and then (Perlini) nailed a great one with the fourth one. It’s battle for every inch out there.”
“When we made it 2-1 there, we had some momentum,” said Hawerchuk. “We needed to build from that and we couldn’t seem to.”
IceDogs goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 27 shots.
“As a goalie you want to give your team a chance to win and that means making key saves at key times,” said Nedeljkovic.
Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 33 shots.
Hawerchuk would also said the Colts were victims of trying to be “too pretty at times.”
“We’ve just got to put pucks to the net,” said Hawerchuk. “We’ve had these times through the year where we’ve got off-kilter and we’ve got to find a way to get is back.”
Veteran forward Dylan Sadowy remains out of the Barrie lineup due to injury. He has been out since early in the second round series against North Bay.
The series continues on Monday night with game three in St. Catharines. Game four is Wednesday night, also in St. Catharines. If needed, game five is set for the Barrie Molson Centre on Apr. 29.
In the Western Conference final, the Erie Otters host the London Knights in game two on Sunday at Erie Insurance Arena. London enters the game with a 1-0 series lead after a 7-4 victory in the opening game on Wednesday night.
