The Barrie Colts are coming home with their best-of-seven first-round series tied at two games apiece after falling 5-3 to the Hamilton Bulldogs on Tuesday night in Ontario Hockey League playoff action.
Hamilton's Cole Brown opened the scoring at FirstOntario Centre with a power-play marker five minutes into the game.
The Colts responded just over a minute later when Declan McDonnell popped his fourth of the playoffs. Tyler Savard and Zach Wigle picked up the assists.
The Bulldogs increased their lead to 3-1 in the second period on goals from Jorian Donovan and Adrian Rebelo.
With Bulldogs defenceman Artem Grushnikov in the penalty box for interference, Barrie's Ethan Cardwell scored with the man advantage just 58 seconds into the third to cut Hamilton's lead to 3-2. Savard and Evan Vierling had the assists.
A little over two minutes later, Nick Lardis scored what would eventually be the game-winning goal on the power play.
It's simple really, big saves lead to big goals! 🚨
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 5, 2023
First Matteo Drobac denies Declan McDonnell on the breakaway before Patrick Thomas sets up #NHLDraft prospect Nick Lardis to double the @BulldogsOHL lead! 🎥#OHLPlayoffs | #BARvsHAM pic.twitter.com/YYH7XwkYkR
Barrie blue-liner Braden Hache scored midway through the penalty-filled third period on the power play, with assists going to McDonnell and Cooper Matthews, to make it 4-3.
But that's as close as the Colts would get.
Lardis scored his second of the game, another power-play marker for the Bulldogs, with just over four minutes left to put the game on ice and tie the series. The 17-year-old finished the game with two goals and an assist.
Barrie goalie Ben West stopped 29 of 34 shots on net, while Hamilton's Matteo Drobac picked up the win after turning aside 28 of 31 shots.
Game 5 goes Thursday night at Sadlon Arena in Barrie, with puck drop scheduled for shortly after 7:30 p.m.
The Colts will also have captain Brandt Clarke back in the lineup for Game 5. He was handed a one-game suspension for kneeing following an illegal hit on Lawson Sherk in Game 3.
Game 1 – Thursday, March 30 at Barrie – Colts 10, Bulldogs 2
Game 2 – Saturday, April 1 at Barrie – Colts 6, Bulldogs 3
Game 3 – Sunday, April 2 at Hamilton – Bulldogs 6, Colts 3
Game 4 – Tuesday, April 4 at Hamilton – Bulldogs 5, Colts 3
Game 5 – Thursday, April 6 at Barrie, 7:30 p.m.
Game 6 – Monday, April 10 at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
Game 7 – Tuesday, April 11 at Barrie, 7:30 p.m. *
(* if necessary)
