When pretty much every game at this time of the season is an important one, a bout of sickness going through a hockey team certainly doesn’t help.
The shorthanded Barrie Colts found that out the hard way on Saturday night, dropping a 5-4 decision to the North Bay Battalion after a 10-round shootout at Sadlon Arena.
Alliston native Lirim Amidovski had the lone goal in a lengthy shootout as the Colts (33-15-2-2), playing without key veterans Beau Jelsma, Beau Akey, and Tristan Bertucci, dropped a second-straight game for only the fourth time this season.
“There are no easy games,” said Colts’ general manager and head coach Marty Williamson. “You see Peterborough beat Kingston tonight (3-2 in a shootout). You battle for everything and right now we’re going through it. When you’re basically missing your whole right defence with Bertucci and Akey out, and (with) Jelsma out, those are three pretty big pieces for us.
“It affects power plays, and it affects things. We had a couple of guys that gutted out some sickness for us. We’re just fighting it a little bit right now. This is what happens in a 68-game schedule and I’m proud of the guys getting a point tonight.”
The Colts did gain an important point to climb within one point of the Oshawa Generals atop the Eastern Conference standings. The win was a big one for the Battalion (20-27-4-0), moving the Troops into a tie with the Ottawa 67’s for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference.
“Especially within the division, these matchups are important,” said Colts’ forward Dalyn Wakely of the contest against his former team. “For us, we got our eyes on certain things, and for (North Bay) this was an important one too.
“I think for us, it’s just trying to focus on our goals night-in-and-night-out, not get distracted by any outside noises, and just trying to stay focused on the task at hand and get two points each night.”
The Colts, who never led in this one, chased the Battalion through the night. Four times the visitors jumped ahead only to have Barrie battle back each time.
“They played us hard last time when they beat us 2-0,” said Williamson. “They sit back and wait for opportunity, and they were able to squeeze in a few goals. Our guys never gave up. We battled; we got chances in the overtime.
“We had a couple of good looks, and they had a good look too, and then it goes into a shootout and anything can happen.”
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Anthony Romani’s second of the game against his former teammate Mike McIvor past the midway point of the third period tied it at 4-4 and the Colts would out-chance the Battalion in the overtime, but a wicked deke by Amidovski on the 10th shootout attempt against Barrie netminder Sam Hillebrandt would prove the difference.
Nonetheless, it was still an important point for Barrie with so much at stake and the stretch drive not too far around the corner.
“Hilly kept us in there at the end and made some big saves in overtime too to keep us in that game,” said Wakely, who finished with two assists. “I think for us, we know we got a strong back end in goaltending and for us up front, it’s just trying to capitalize on the opportunities we get and help out where we can.
“Obviously, important to get the point tonight, but I would have liked two for sure.”
Cole Beaudoin and Owen Van Steensel also scored for the Colts, while Ihnat Pazii, with his first two of the season, Jacob Therrien, and Ethan Procyszyn found the back of the net for North Bay.
It was a big night for Wakely, Romani, and Van Steensel against their former team. The trio, who totalled 301 points together last season for North Bay, had their best game in a Barrie uniform, scoring three of the four goals and racking up six points.
After taking a little time to adjust to Barrie’s systems, the trio – all acquired this season – is rounding into shape.
“They sure are,” said Williamson. “We’re seeing the signs of why this line was so dominant last year. They just have a good feel for each other out there and some really good finish. That goal by Romani to tie it is a pro-type of goal. It was a heck of a goal.”
For Wakely who was acquired early in the season, and his linemates at the trade deadline, their hard work is finally starting to pay off.
“I think for us we might have thought it would come quicker, but it didn’t and we’re just trying to stay patient and know that it will come eventually if we keep focused,” said the Edmonton Oilers prospect. “Tonight, I think, we saw some progress with some results finally and now it’s just trying to build on that.
“We want to keep it going into Monday (in Kingston) and the rest of the season here. We definitely know with our team how much talent we have, so, for us, we’re just trying to contribute.”
Already missing Jack Martin (concussion) and Bertucci (mono) from the lineup, a bout of the flu going around claimed Akey and Jelsma.
The hope is that both don’t miss much time, though Jelsma could be out until next weekend.
“We’re told Jelsma was flirting with pneumonia so he’s going to need about a week,” said Williamson. “That’s not too bad if he misses the Kingston game and then he’s back for next weekend.”
“We got to fight through it right now until we get healthy,” added Williamson.
The Colts end this Family Day long weekend against the Frontenacs on Monday afternoon.
“It’s so close right now, a two- or three-point difference one through five,” said Wakely. “Kingston is one of those teams that are going to be fighting with us for that top spot. It’s definitely an important game and one that brings us further down the road.”
Game time on Monday afternoon at Slush Puppie Place is 2 p.m.
ICE CHIPS:
With four regulars out of the lineup, the Colts have had to rely on their depth like rookie blueliners Justin Handsor and Ethan Armstrong and forwards Michael Derbidge and Cole Dubowsky. “When you don’t have your full compliment going, guys have got to dig down and play good games,” said Williamson. “I thought Handsor and Armstrong gave us some good minutes, and I know our fourth line got caught out there for the fourth goal on the deflection, but they gave me some quality shifts for guys who haven’t played an awful lot.” . . . Riley Patterson had an assist to improve his scoring streak to nine games (4-11-15). . . After recording just five assists in his first 11 games with the Colts, Van Steensel has two goals and seven points in his last five games. . . Barrie outshot North Bay 38-28. . . The Colts were scoreless on four power plays, while the Battalion failed on three chances. . . Attendance was 4,042, making it four out of the last five games the Colts have drawn over 4,000 fans.
