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Colts draw first blood in North Bay with OT win

Barrie defenceman Josh Kavanagh scored the game-winning goal just 1:49 into extra time to take Game 1
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Barrie Colts defenceman Josh Kavanagh scored the overtime winner in Game 1 of their second-round series against the North Bay Battalion, Friday night.

The Barrie Colts marched into North Bay Memorial Gardens on Friday night for the opening game of their second-round Ontario Hockey League playoff series against the Battalion and came away with a 3-2 overtime victory.

Josh Kavanagh had the overtime winner just 1:49 into extra time, his first goal of the playoffs. Evan Vierling and Ethan Cardwell set up the goal after some hard work in the corner.

With the win, the Colts take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 2 goes Sunday afternoon, beginning at 2 p.m., back at North Bay Memorial Gardens.

North Bay defenceman Ty Nelson opened the scoring with six minutes left in the first period with his third goal of the playoffs.

Five minutes into the second period, Battalion winger Owen Van Steensel put the home side up 2-0 on a feed in the slot from Liam Arnsby.

And with that, the Colts would soon come to life offensively. 

With about eight minutes left in the middle frame, the Colts narrowed the score to 2-1 when Barrie's Zach Wigle fired one past North Bay goalie Dom DiVincentiis for his first goal of the post-season.

Three minutes into the third period, Colts captain Brandt Clarke knotted the game at 2-2 with his sixth goal of the playoffs and league-leading 18th point. The Los Angeles Kings prospect blew a kiss to the North Bay crowd after the goal.

With a 5-on-3 power play, it looked like the Colts had taken their first lead of the game on a tic-tac-toe passing play finished off by forward Jacob Frasca. However, after video review, the goal was called back on an offside play at the blue-line. 

The Battalion ended up killing off the penalties and got some life. 

The two teams traded chances, but the score remained even after regulation and went to overtime. The Colts didn't waste much time en route to a 3-2 overtime win. 

Barrie goalie Anson Thornton finished the game with 39 saves on 41 shots, while North Bay's DiVincentiis turned aside 27 of 30 shots. 

Vierling finished the game with two assists. 

The announced attendance was 3,720.

It was also announced earlier in the day that Barrie forward Ethan Cardwell had signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the San Jose Sharks. The 20-year-old Courtice, Ont., native was selected in the fourth round (121st overall) of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

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. 

If necessary, 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.

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 Friday night, the Ottawa 67's doubled up the Peterborough Petes, 4-2, in Game 1 of the other Eastern Conference match-up.

Over in the Western Conference, the London Knights jumped out to a 3-0 after the first period against the Kitchener Rangers and didn't look back en route to an 8-4 win, while the Sarnia Sting blanked the Saginaw Spirit, 3-0, in the other series.

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, 2 p.m.
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)


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Raymond Bowe

About the Author: Raymond Bowe

Raymond is an award-winning journalist who has been reporting from Simcoe County since 2000
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