The Barrie Colts saved the best for last against the Windsor Spitfires on Saturday night, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a rough second period.
The Spitfires got all the offence they would need in a dominant middle frame and then staved off a fierce push by the Colts in the third for a 3-1 victory, Saturday night, at Sadlon Arena.
Kazakhstan import Beksultan Makysh scored twice and overage goalie Joey Costanzo made 31 saves, including 20 in the third, to help Windsor (4-0), the second-ranked team in the CHL Top 10, remain undefeated.
Carter Hicks, on the power play, also scored for the Spitfires, who scored all three goals in the second while outshooting Barrie 26-12 heading to the third.
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Gabriel Eliasson, with his first of the season, scored just 2:57 into the final frame to cut the lead to a pair, but it would be as close as the Colts (1-1-0-1) would come on this night.
“We got away from our game a bit there in the second,” said Barrie forward Alex Assadourian, who had a couple of scoring chances in close in the third period. “I feel like we’re still growing as a team, and everyone is just figuring out who they are playing with.
“I feel like we got a lot of growing to do, and once we put it all together, as we showed in the third period, we’ll be just fine.”
Barrie played a solid opening period and took it to Windsor in the third, but a lull in the second would prove costly.
“We came in after the first thinking we were pretty structured, and we were happy with how disciplined we were,” said Colts’ head coach Dylan Smoskowitz. “There were not many chances either way, and we can take that against a high-flying team like that.
“The second just got away from us. We dug ourselves too big a hole, because I really liked the third period as well. Between the first and third periods, we were pretty happy as a coaching staff, and, in the second, we just got to be better.”
The Spitfires raced out of the gate to start the second and were rewarded on Hicks’ marker with Barrie’s Cole Emerton in the penalty box for holding.
That seemed to spark a Windsor team that had outscored its opponents 16-2 over its opening three games, and Makysh, who is off to a red-hot start in his OHL career, scored his fourth and fifth goals a little more than eight minutes apart to help the visitors take control.
“It was like who was going to strike first,” said Smoskowitz. “It was a very quiet first period. The shots were 7-3, and then they got that first one, so it kind of put us back on our heels. Then they come with two after that.
“The hole was too big. You take that second period out, and I’m sure you find a lot of positives with our guys. We’ll use the second period as a teaching tool, and we’ll be better (Sunday) in Owen Sound.”
The third period was a very different story for the Colts. They raced out to start the period, and Eliasson gave them hope when he took a pass from Jaiden Newton and walked into the middle of the ice and fired one from the high slot that found its way through heavy traffic and past Costanzo.
The Spitfires called for a review of the Eliasson marker, saying it was goaltender interference, but after a lengthy review, it was ruled a good goal. A new OHL rule would result in the visitors receiving a minor for delay of game.
The Colts failed to take advantage of that key opportunity and they would go on the power play again just past the midway point of the third, but the Costanzo and the Spitfires would hold fort once again.
“We were fighting the puck a little bit on the power play,” Smoskowitz said. “It’s early in the season, so guys are still getting used to each other. I think with more reps, we’ll get more comfortable and the guys will really start snapping it around.
“We got some good players, and some good systems in place for the power plays, and we feel pretty good about it. It wasn’t our night tonight, but it’s not that we’re back to the drawing board or anything like that. We just need the guys to get used to each other.”
Assadourian, who was acquired in the offseason from Niagara and is one of eight new faces in the Barrie lineup, believes he and his teammates just need a little time.
“We got a bit away from our game there in the second,” he said. “I feel like we’re still growing as a team, and everyone is just figuring out who they are playing with.
“I feel like we got a lot of growing to do, and once we put it all together, as we showed in the third period, we’ll be just fine.”
The Colts wrap up a busy weekend Sunday afternoon in Owen Sound when they look to avenge a 2-1 shootout loss Thursday night to their Highway 26 rivals.
The Attack beat the Kitchener Rangers, 5-2, on home ice Saturday and remain one of four OHL teams that have yet to lose a game this season.
“You find out a lot, and that’s what you want,” Smoskowitz said of the tough weekend schedule. “At the start of the year, you want to see what you have. You want to play the best. You don’t want the teams that are struggling out of the gate and have a false sense about your group.
“You want to stack up against the best guys and see how you do.”
Game time at the recently renovated Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre is 2 p.m.
ICE CHIPS: Barrie outshot Windsor, 32-29. . . Despite playing twice in the last three days and the quick turnaround, the Colts could go back to Hrebik again on Sunday. “We’ll have some conversations tonight,” said Smoskowitz. “Maybe talk to Ben and see how he’s feeling. I know it’s a quick turnaround, but I was just talking to our goalie coach (Dave Belitski) and he said, ‘If you want to be a No. 1 in this league, these are the kind of pressure situations you want to put yourself in.’” . . . Ethan Armstrong was a healthy scratch, allowing rookie Teague Vader to get back in on the blueline. “We like all seven guys,” Smoskowitz said of defence core. “Keeps guys fresh and he’ll be back in (Sunday).” . . . Rookie Jack Pollock is no longer with the team. . . Former Colt Cole Dubowsky made his first appearance in Barrie since he was dealt to Windsor just before the start of the season.
