The Barrie Colts were hoping to decamp from North Bay on Sunday afternoon with a lead in their best-of-seven, second-round series against the Battalion in Ontario Hockey League playoff action, but it wasn't in the plans.
Barrie fell 5-2 to the Battalion in Game 2, as North Bay winger Kyle McDonald led the offence with a pair of first-period goals. The series is now tied 1-1 as it heads back to Barrie for Game 3 on Tuesday night at Sadlon Arena.
The two teams certainly didn't waste any time jumping out of the gate and keeping the scorekeeper busy this afternoon.
The Battalion's Justin Ertel was assessed a two-minute slashing minor just seven seconds into the game and the Colts capitalized quickly on a nice passing play, with forward Beau Jelsma finding the back of the net on a quick snap shot from the slot. Evan Vierling and Jacob Frasca assisted on Jelsma's third goal of the season 43 seconds into the game.
North Bay bounced back just 47 seconds later to tie the game 1-1 on a goal from McDonald, his eighth of the playoffs.
A little over seven minutes later, McDonald scored his ninth of the post-season when he powered past Vierling, who was playing defence, and lifted the puck over Barrie goalie Anson Thornton to make it 2-1.
Kyle Jackson put the Troops up 3-1 on a cross-ice feed from Matvey Petrov with 3:22 left in the opening period for his fourth goal of the playoffs.
Less than five minutes into the second period, North Bay's Liam Arnsby potted his second goal of the post-season to stake the Battalion to a 4-1 lead.
The Colts responded to a power-play goal midway through the third to cut into the Battalion's lead and make it 4-2 on a goal from Frasca, his fourth of the playoffs. Brandt Clarke and Ethan Cardwell had the assists.
Frasca gets his 4th of the post-season!#GiddyUp pic.twitter.com/od9Leg58MS
— X - Barrie Colts (@OHLBarrieColts) April 16, 2023
With 41 seconds left, Pasquale Zito scored into an empty net to make the final 5-2.
Thornton finished the game with 23 saves on 27 shots, while North Bay's Dom DiVincentiis turned aside 32 of 34 shots.
The announced attendance was 3,460.
The series shifts back to Barrie for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday, April 18 and Thursday, April 20 at Sadlon Arena. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m. both nights. Click here for ticket information at Sadlon Arena.
Game 5 will be played in North Bay on Saturday, April 22 beginning at 7 p.m., followed by Game 6 on Monday, April 24 in Barrie at 7:30 p.m., if necessary.
Should the series go the distance, Game 7 will be played the next night on Tuesday, April 25 at North Bay Memorial Gardens starting at 7 p.m.
Elsewhere around the OHL on Sunday afternoon, the Peterborough Petes defeated the Ottawa 67's, 2-1, to tie their series at 1-1 in the other Eastern Conference match-up.
Over in the Western Conference, the Kitchener Rangers beat the London Knights, 6-1, as the Knights lead the series, 2-1. The Sarnia Sting defeated the Saginaw Spirit, 2-1, in overtime in the other series as the Sting take a 2-0 series lead.
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, 7:30 p.m.
Game 4 – Thursday, April 20 at Barrie, 7:30 p.m.
Game 5 – Saturday, April 22 at North Bay, 7 p.m.
Game 6 – Monday, April 24 at Barrie, 7:30 p.m. *
Game 7 – Tuesday, April 25 at North Bay, 7 p.m. *
(* if necessary)
