The Barrie Colts had the Sudbury Wolves on a leash Saturday night, but couldn't hang on.
Up 4-1 and in control, the Colts gave up two late goals in the second and the Wolves would claw all the way back for a 5-4 overtime win at Sadlon Arena.
David Goyette, with his second of the night, finished off a two-on-one with just 56 seconds remaining in the extra frame for the winner to hand the Colts (12-9-3-1) a disappointing loss in a game they feel they should have had.
"Definitely you want to take advantage of these type of games that are against a team lower in the standings," said rookie blueliner Kashawn Aitcheson. "This is a tough one."
Sudbury (9-14-3-0) began the turnaround on goals by Quentin Musty and Landon McCallum just 59 seconds apart in the middle frame to get them within one.
Matthew Mania would walk into the slot and beat Ben West at 12:11 of the third to tie up at 4-4 and set up the overtime winner.
It was a tough pill to swallow for a Barrie team coming off back-to-back impressive wins over Erie and Saginaw.
It was one they know they should have been able to put away.
"One hundred per cent," said Colts head coach Marty Williamson. "We should be playing strong defensively and give ourselves a chance to get it to five (goals) rather than handing them (goals) two and three to get them right back in the game."
Another strong start, aided by a five-minute power play, put the Colts on top early in this one. Declan McDonnell, who scored his first in 19 games in Thursday's win over Saginaw, added another just 9:22 in when he rifled a shot top corner over the glove of Sudbury goalie Joe Ranger.
Artur Cholach made it two goals on the same man advantage a little more than two minutes later when he ripped a shot past the blocker of Ranger from the top of the faceoff circle.
Goyette would cut the lead in half at 18:52 of the first with his own power-play marker, but Vierling tipped an Aitcheson driver from the point just 23 seconds into the second and then Cooper Matthews knocked home a rebound in front at 14:40 to bring an early end to the night for Ranger.
The overage goalie was replaced by rookie Nate Krawchuk after giving up four goals on 17 shots.
Unfortunately for Barrie, the wheels fell off from there.
"It seemed like we sagged a little bit after we got to 4-1, but we were playing a little bit shaky and gave some odd-man rushes and stuff like that," said Williamson. "We had the lead, but we didn't really correct tightening up our game a little bit.
"We started the third a little bit better, had a couple of power-play chances. Unfortunately, we had a breakdown that cost us that fourth goal."
Ethan Cardwell had an excellent chance to give Barrie the win in overtime, but a turnover a short while after sent Goyette and Musty in. Musty stepped around a diving Cardwell and slid it over to Goyette who came back across the crease and slid it past the outstretched pad of West.
It was Goyette's 20th of the season. The Wolves' dynamic duo combined for six points (3G, 3A) on the night.
"He sure is," Williamson said when asked if Goyette is going to make you pay on a prime scoring chance like that. "Cardwell had a pretty good chance. We thought we had our opportunity and Punnett turned the puck over at the blueline and they get that two-on-one with Musty and Goyette, and they're pretty dangerous."
The Colts continue their busy stretch before the Christmas break Sunday night when they hit the road to face the Oshawa Generals.
Over this weekend and next week, Barrie will play seven times in 11 nights.
"We got to start off with the same kind of effort and get some consistency to our game and we'll be OK," said Williamson of the game in Oshawa.
Game time at the Tribute Communities Centre is 6:05 p.m.
ICE CHIPS: Aitcheson thought he might of had his first career OHL goal, but Vierling got his stick on the low shot from the point. "I thought it was mine for a second. I was really excited," said the rookie defenceman. "I'm happy to see Vierling score too. He's a real good buddy and it was just a great tip." . . . Krawchuk stopped all 10 shots he faced to grab his first OHL career win. . . Sudbury outshot Barrie, 35-27. . . Barrie finished 2-for-3 on the power play for a second-straight game and now boast the OHL's fourth-best unit with the man advantage (24.4 per cent). . . Goyette now has 11 goals and 19 points over his last 10 games. . . Musty improved his scoring streak to 14 games. The 2021 first overall pick has six goals and 29 points over that hot stretch. . . Sudbury forward Ethan Larmand's night was a short one after earning a checking-to-the-head major and game misconduct just 9:04 into the game. . . McDonnell, who had just two assists in 17 games prior to this weekend, has four points in his last two games.
Banner image via Terry Wilson/OHL Images
