Colts shake off slow start to top Frontenacs in series opener

The Barrie Colts saved their best for last in the opening game of their OHL Eastern Conference second-round series Thursday night against the Kingston Frontenacs at Sadlon Arena.

Outplayed over the first 40 minutes, the Colts still found a way to grab a 3-2 lead and then turned it on big time in the third period to blow open a tight game and skate to a 6-2 win.

The Frontenacs, who swept the Sudbury Wolves in the opening round, jumped out to a 2-0 a little more than seven minutes into the game on goals by Maleek McGowan and Tuomas Uronen, but Barrie would score six unanswered goals, including three in a dominating third, to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Game 2 is back in Barrie on Saturday night. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

“We saved our best for last,” said forward Riley Patterson, who had a goal and two assists to lead the offence for Barrie. “We didn’t play a full 60 (minutes) and we struggled a bit at times during the year playing the full 60.

“We’re confident that we can continue forward, and we can build off that third and play that way the whole game.”

Barrie was outshot 33-12 over the opening two periods yet entered the third with the lead thanks to what proved to be the game-winer by Carter Lowe midway through the second and the play of goaltender Sam Hillebrandt.

Barrie, though, would come to life in the third. Dalyn Wakely scored just 1:30 in and markers by Beau Jelsma and Kashawn Aitcheson, on the power play, just 2:06 apart past the midway point put the game away.

The Colts, who outshot the Frontenacs 19-7 in the frame, used their speed and a strong forecheck to turn the game around.

“When we got our Man 2 involved, we got the turnovers we needed,” said Colts’ general manager and head coach Marty Williamson. “Then all of a sudden, we did a real good job in the third period with both guys checking hard. This is the bread and butter of our hockey team.

“We’re a simple team. We get the puck in deep, and we get to work on the forecheck, and that causes problems. I thought we did a good job.”

Goals by Patterson and Emil Hemming, on the power play, a little more than two minutes apart tied the game up later in the first period.

A period the Colts were lucky to have come out even in. The second wasn’t much better.

“Very fortunate,” said Williamson. “As I said to them (players), it was a terrible period. We had 25 turnovers and that’s usually a game. We had 25 in the first, but it was 2-2. So, I said, ‘Let’s shake this off.’

“We didn’t get going that much better in the second. There were some flashes and then it was a steady third period diet of speed and smart decisions with the puck.”

Slow starts have plagued the Colts all season and that was the case again on Thursday night. Barrie had just five shots in the first on Kingston netminder Charlie Schenkel.

“We were talking about it, and I said the same thing,” Williamson said of the tentative start. “I thought we were tentative at times in the starts against Niagara and then we come out here and do the same thing. It just seems like it takes us a little while to get going.

“I don’t know what the reason is. Four lines, so maybe they’re not quite into the game and, then all of a sudden, we get into the game, and we move well. We just got to get started and get a little better.”

With some help from Hillebrandt, the Colts were able to hold the fort until they found their game.

“There was definitely a lot of turnovers in the first that we need to clean up, but I think it shows the type of character our team has,” he said. “We had that type of first, but it was a bit better second and a real strong third to close out the game.

“It shows what kind of team we are and kind of how we can bounce back from things.”

The Colts turned to one of their “weapons” in the third, using its speed, but it was Hillebrandt who steadied the ship long enough for his teammates to get going.

“I thought when we struggled Hilly played awfully well,” said Williamson. “Especially in the second period. The first he gave up two and it wasn’t his fault, but we made big mistakes.

“That second period we really needed him, and he gave us a real opportunity to have a good third period.”

The veteran goalie stopped 38 of 40 shots on the night.

“He is unbelievable,” Patterson said of Hillebrandt. “He’s such a good goaltender. We feel so confident with him back in the net. He shows up every game and he was really dialled in on the ice. Even (Ben) Hrebik. All year we’ve said we have two starting goalies.

“It’s a great feeling and we’re super confident no matter who is back there.”

The Colts will look to hold on to their home-ice advantage on Saturday.

“Every game is going to be a battle in this series,” said Williamson. “Every game will have different little nuances to it. I’m hoping this building is full Saturday and it will be a good atmosphere in here for us.”

ICE CHIPS: Attendance was a disappointing 2,880 for the series opener. . . Barrie didn’t take a penalty all game, while the power play continued its strong play in the playoffs with a 2-for-2 night. The Colts sit second overall for power-play efficiency with a 47.4 per cent success rate. “Our guys seem to know our options really well,” said Williamson. “I like how quickly we’re doing things. We’re making quick decisions and that’s a good sign for our power play.” . . . Forward Brad Gardiner, who has missed the last four playoff games with an undisclosed injury, is set to return for Game 2. “Saturday was kind of the target for him, and we seem to be on track,” said Williamson. “He went one hard practice, and he’ll go hard (Friday), and he’ll be ready for us, so it will be a nice little boost.”. . . McGowan took a hit from Aitcheson in the opening period and never returned. . . Jelsma (1-1-2), Aitcheson (1-1-2), and Beau Akey (0-2-2) each had two-point nights. . . Bode Stewart returned to the Barrie lineup after missing the last two games.