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PLAYOFF BLOG
Puck is close to ready to drop.
While many call the Battalion a "Trap Team," Stan Butler told the Barrie broadcast team his team played way too passive in game 3.
Jared Steege gets the call again as Zach Bratina will miss his 2nd straight game. Mike Baird also is dressed for his first OHL playoff game. Jamie Lewis is also out of the lineup for game 4. On the blue line, Brendan Miller is also out for game 4.
On an early power play, Jake Smith came up big making a stop on Brendan Lemieux after a Tyson Fawcett point shot.
Ben Thomson came down the right wing on a giveaway by CJ Garcia, and puts a shot over the shoulder of MacKenzie Blackwood for his first goal of the playoffs to make it 1-0 Troops.
Shortly after that, the Colts respond with a great chance by Mitchell Theoret and rang a shot off the post.
Then less than a minute later, Barclay Goodrow came down the left wing fired a shot over top Blackwood to make it 2-0.
The Colts called a time out to try and relax after the Troops scored 2 goals on 2 shots.
That was enough for coach Dale Hawerchuk as Daniel Gibl replaced Blackwood who allowed 2 goals on 3 shots.
After Gibl made a 3 good stops, Blackwood returned to the Colts goal crease.
Then, Mike Amadio picks up a puck at the slot and puts the puck between the pads and beats Blackwood to make it 3-0 at 9:23 with assists to Matt McLeod and Dylan Blujus.
So Blackwood comes back in and allowed a goal on his first shot after returning.
Vincent Praplan and Brendan Lemieux get coincidentals, as Praplan called for checking to the head while the fiesty Lemieux charged with slashing.
If you recall, this is the first time the Battalion have scored in the first period of this series.
Coming into tonight, all 6 of their playoff series goals have been scored in the third period.
The Colts Brendan Lemieux comes out of the box and re-directs a Liam Maaskant pass to make it 3-1 at 14:29 of the first.
Connor Jarvis and Andreas Athanasiou both called late for coincidentals.
However, in the final minute of the period, Nick Paul was called for closing his hand on the puck and gave the Colts a late period power play that will carry over to the 2nd...
END OF FIRST
Vincent Praplan talked to the Barrie Rogers TV crew in the intermission.
"We didn't play well enough on Tuesday, so we needed to come out strong this period and I think we did," said Praplan to Rogers TV's Craig Ripley.
2ND PERIOD
The Colts don't get much going on their early power play to start the period. They moved the puck well from the perimeter but didn't get a good scoring chance.
Dylan Blujus was a workhorse in the opening frame with Miller out as he logged about 8 minutes of time in the 1st period.
Battalion showing good energy again to start the second period.
On a delayed penalty, Kyle Wood goes down in the Brett Hull position and from one knee lifts it over Blackwood again at 4:23 of the period. Blackwood is relieved again by Gibl, this time he's likely lifted for good.
Great opportunity for the Colts, as McIvor and McKenzie both called for hauling down Zach Hall at the side of the Battalion net at 8:05 giving the home side a 2 minute 5 on 3.
Zach Hall makes the Battalion pay from the one-timer and went off someone in front, possibly Brendan Lemieux to make it 4-2 as they cash in on the power play.
Goal does go to Lemieux, who gets his second of the game.
After killing off the second penalty, the Battalion Matt MacLeod drills Aaron Ekblad from behind in the neutral zone near the benches and he is sent to the box midway through the midlde frame. Call is cross-checking.
The Hall goal was the first power play marker of the series for the Colts.
Well, Ben Thomson returns on the PK, and he hammers Zach Hall into the boards and again the Colts will be awarded a 5 on 3.
The Colts will have a 1:14, 5 on 3 power play.
On a nice play by the Colts, Brendan Lemieux nets the hat trick goal on a nice feed to Lemieux and the Colts sniper puts it right under the bar to make it 4-3.
The two Lemieux power play markers are scored less than 4 minutes apart, and both on 5 on 3 power plays.
The officials have now called 5 straight penalties against the Battalion.
Off a draw, Tyson Fawcett won a draw back to Liam Maaskant who put a shot through traffic and tied the game 4-4 at 14:04.
Maaskant called for an unsportsmanlike call after the goal was scored and Troops go to the power play for the first power play of the night.
4-4 your score after 2 periods of play.
Praplan talked about the Battalion coming out with more energy, they harnessed it in the opening frame but maybe were a bit too aggressive in the second, which really led to the parade to the penalty box for the Troops.
On the bright side, the Battalion go to the 3rd period which has been their best during this playoff season.
START OF 3RD
Smith busy again in Barrie as he faced 26 shots in the first 2 periods.
Blujus with close to 20 minutes of ice after 2 periods.
Webster called for interferance and the Battalion get their second power play of the night.
Nick Paul from side of net could not coral a rebound in front of an empty net. Moments later Ben Thomson gets a great chance and Gibl snares his quick shot from in tight.
Power play is over.
Well, the winner of this series will face the Oshawa Generals, who completed their 4-game sweep of the Peterborough Petes, winning game 4 by a score of 4-2 tonight in Peterborough.
From a very bad angle on a good battle down low, Tyson Fawcett sneaks in and beats Jake Smith on the short side for the Colts first lead of the game at 4:39 of the 3rd period, it's 5-4 Colts.
The goal scorer Fawcett goes to the box for cross-checking. The Battalion power play really struggling but they get a break as Liam Maaskant goes off for delay of game.
Good power play puck movement and Ekblad called for hauling down Goodrow and they get a 1:15 5 on 3 power play in hopes of getting the equalizer. Two of the Colts 3 goals in the middle frame came on 5 on 3 power play chances.
The Battalion again with some great puck movement but can't capitalize on the 5 on 3.
The Troops come up empty on that great opportunity and the Molson Centre erupts with 7:58 to go in regulation.
Gibl has made 22 stops on 22 shots so far. Blackwood has allowed all 4 goals on the night.
Goodrow called for a high stick on Jonathan Laser.
Off the draw, Zach Hall scores 2 seconds into a power play off a one-timer off a face-off win by Andreas Athanasiou, with Lemieux screening and it's 6-4 Colts at 13:20 and the Colts 3rd power play goal of the game.
Marcus McIvor drills the puck off the iron, the only puck that's come close to beating Gibl on this night.
Less than 4 minutes left in regulation and Ben Thomson going to go to the box again.
Athanasiou, a trailer on a play is robbed in the slot by Jake Smith, however less than 2:30 left.
Late in the power play, Mangiopane shot is stopped, but Smith gets the quick whistle as the puck squirted loose as Kevin Labanc put the puck in the open cage after the whistle so no goal. however, another penalty to Marcus McIvor, and the Colts get their 10th power play of the game.
The Colts get their 4th power play goal as Aaron Ekblad took the shot from the point and Garrett Hooey looked to tip it past Smith and it's 7-4 Colts less than 2 minutes left in regulation.
Scrum breaks out at Brett McKenzie and Jake Dotchin mix it up with the Colts Dman getting the decision and the take down. Kyle Locke and Mitchell Theoret also get in a tussle as well in the final minute.
A long delay took place as the officials try to sort out all the penalties.
Final seconds Zach Hall with a great chance and Miles Liberati cross checks him to the ice for yet another Colts PP.
7-4 is your final. The series is now tied 2-2.
Both teams will be back at it Friday night with a 7:30 puck drop at Memorial Gardens.
