Monday’s Game 6 at Sadlon Arena has just become a do-or-die as the Barrie Colts were battered by the North Bay Battalion, Saturday night.
Game 5 of the best-of-seven, second-round tilt saw the Battalion defeat Barrie, 7-3, to take a commanding 3-2 series lead with a chance to wrap it up in Barrie on Monday.
The Colts opened the scoring on a goal by winger Tai York 8:41 in the first period.
That would be short lived as the Battalion would tie it up under four minutes later on a power-play one-timer from forward Matvey Petrov.
It would stay that way until 37 seconds into the second period when Barrie forward Beau Jelsma would force a giveaway in front of North Bay’s net and centre Jacob Frasca would slap one past Battalion goalie Dom DiVincentiis.
It would quickly go bad for the Colts as North Bay would score three goals in under three minutes to take a 4-2 lead.
Defenseman Luc Brzustowski, forward Pasquale Zito and Avery Winslow, another blueliner, would each slide goals past Barrie netminder Anson Thorton, who would see 30 shots this night.
It would only take 4:53 of the third for the scoring to start back up, this time it was Barrie getting back into the game on a goal from Los Angeles Kings prospect blueliner Brandt Clarke with a pass from centre Ethan Cardwell, who recently signed an entry-level deal with the San Jose Sharks.
Zito and forward Dalyn Wakely would score less than a minute apart to give North Bay a 6-3 lead with under 10 minutes left in the game.
It would get worse for Barrie when a 1:01 later, North Bay winger Kyle McDonald would make it 7-3 for the home team, which would remain the final.
The Colts will hope to force a Game 7 with a win at home on Monday. Puck drop at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are available here.
In the only other game in the league on Saturday, the Ottawa 67’s scored four goals in the third period to complete the comeback on the Peterborough Petes, winning 5-4 and forcing a Game 6. That series has the Petes up 3-2.
SERIES AT A GLANCE
Game 1 – Friday, April 14 at North Bay – Colts 3, Battalion 2 (OT)
Game 2 – Sunday, April 16 at North Bay – Battalion 5, Colts 2
Game 3 – Tuesday, April 18 at Barrie – Colts 2, Battalion 1 (OT)
Game 4 – Thursday, April 20 at Barrie – Battalion 4, Colts 3 (OT)
Game 5 – Saturday, April 22 at North Bay – Battalion 7, Colts 3
Game 6 – Monday, April 24 at Barrie, 7:30 p.m.
Game 7 – Tuesday, April 25 at North Bay, 7 p.m. *
(* if necessary)
