Carter Lowe saved the day just in time, and Kashawn Aitcheson finished off a remarkable comeback in overtime for the Barrie Colts in a classic playoff-like battle Saturday night between two of the top contenders in the Ontario Hockey League.
Lowe scored his second of the night with just 1.7 seconds remaining to tie it and then Aitcheson buried the winner just 15 seconds into overtime to give the Colts a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Brampton Steelheads at Sadlon Arena.
In easily one of the most entertaining finishes to a game this season, the Colts found a way after what appeared was going to be a heartbreaking loss.
After Lowe put Barrie (28-14-1-1) on top 1-0 early in the third when he banged home a rebound off the back boards, Vilmer Alriksson and Jakbu Fibigr scored just 47 seconds apart with less than three minutes remaining to put Brampton (19-15-8-0) on top.
The Colts would tie it just in time when Jack Ivankovic made a pad stop on a low drive by Emil Hemming, but Lowe was on the doorstep to backhand the rebound past the Steelheads goaltender and send this one to overtime.
Momentum in their favour, the Colts didn’t wait long to get things done in the extra frame.
Riley Patterson and Aitcheson quickly moved in on a two-on-one where Patterson slid a perfect pass through the skates of Finn Harding to Aitcheson.
The top NHL prospect moved to his backhand and while going in drew a hooking penalty by Carson Rehkopf. There was no need for a power play as Aitcheson continued to the net and slid it on his backhand around Ivankovic for the winner.
It was redemption for the big physical defenceman who just three minutes earlier had Fibigr race past him to put the Steelheads on top.
“It was a nice overtime goal by Aitch,” Colts’ general manager and head coach Marty Williamson said of the winner. “He said he wanted to make up for the breakaway on the goal. It’s a good two points for us. It’s a good character win.”
It was also great concentration by Aitcheson who didn’t allow the hook to phase him one bit in his drive to the net.
“We were going to go on a four-on-three, but I’m glad he finished it, and I didn’t have to see my power play again,” said Williamson laughing out loud.
Lowe wasn’t surprised his teammate stepped up in overtime.
“That’s just the plays Kash can make,” he said. “After the game, he said he didn’t think it was going to go in after he got hooked, but he just finds a way to make those go in. It was a big game for him.”
None of it would be possible without the late heroics of Lowe, who admits he wasn’t sure of how much time was remaining when he tied it up in dramatic fashion.
“I didn’t know there was 1.7 seconds left. I probably would have been a little more nervous putting that one in,” said the hulking winger sporting a big grin after the game. “Luckily it went in and Kash finished it off.”
Lowe went to the front of the net on both of his goals and was rewarded.
“Marty likes to harp on us a lot about getting in front and putting those dirty ones in,” said the Colts winger who now has a career 12 goals this season. “They don’t ask how, so however they come I’ll take them.”
Williamson pointed to just how much his big winger’s game has grown this season and he was happy to see Lowe rewarded.
“(Carter) understands what he is and he’s starting to play well for me away from the puck,” said the coach. “He’s a good utility guy that goes up and down our lineup. He has a great attitude. He’s just a really supportive teammate. Sometimes his ice time isn’t as high as other games, but he came through big tonight.”
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It was an emotional win for the Colts in a game where both teams were looking to make a statement. Barrie has now won four straight after dropping five-in-a-row during its season-high losing skid.
“I feel like we’re a pretty resilient team, especially after that slide we went on of just losing games,” said Lowe. “It was frustrating and pretty annoying going into games and not knowing what’s going on, but we stopped that momentum and flipped it around the other way. We just got to roll with it.”
The game was scoreless through the opening 40 minutes with Williamson saying he felt his team was a little hesitant in the first, before getting stronger as the game went on.
Sam Hillebrandt was outstanding in goal, stopping 36 of 38 shots, while Ivankovic was almost as good at the other end with 31 saves.
“It was one of those games where there were a lot of chess matches going on out there, but we kept it to the outside and Sam made some big saves when we needed him,” said Williamson.
It was pretty much the hockey battle that everyone expected from two teams who fancy themselves as contenders this year.
“It is kind of like a playoff hockey game out there,” said Williamson. “We’re both built to try and win this year, and I think there’s a chance that’s one of the teams that will be standing in the middle that we’ll have to get through.”
The Steelheads tied the contest when Alriksson was allowed to walk around Hillebrandt in front and then, with Brampton on the power play in a late call that drew boos from the crowd, Fibigr raced past Aitcheson and then split the middle of two other Colts to move in alone on Hillebrandt.
“I didn’t like the call and that’s not the way we kill penalties either to give up a breakaway like that,” said Williamson. “But with 1.7 seconds left Lowe bangs one in front of the net, so it made everything good.”
The Colts have another tough conference match up ahead on Saturday when they host the Brantford Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs have won seven straight heading into Friday night’s OHL action and sit a mere three points behind Barrie atop the conference standings.
“They’re hotter than a firecracker,” Williamson said of the Bulldogs. “They’re playing really well. Their power play is lethal right now. It’s something we got to walk through (Friday) with what we’re going to do on the penalty kill.
“We’re going to take it easy on them (Friday). We’re going to do a walk-through on how we want to play that game and get some rest. These guys have been working hard.”
Game time Saturday night at Sadlon Arena is 7:30 p.m.
ICE CHIPS: Barrie’s line of Dalyn Wakely, Anthony Romani, and Owen Van Steensel had a tough time matched up against Brampton’s top line of Porter Martone, Angus MacDonnell, and Rehkopf. Williamson thought they did some things well, but Romani is still learning to adjust play in his zone. “I say I don’t like it, but I expected it,” said Williamson. “It is going to take a month with me to get him to play the way I want him to play and not the way he’s kind of used to. The way this team plays. He’s a good kid. He’s receptive, he wants to get better and help this team win, so I’m good with it.”. . . Aitcheson now has a career-high 13 goals in 41 games. He has two goals and four points through his last three games. . . Patterson and Hemming each had two assists.
