Cole Beaudoin had one goal and two assists as Barrie downed the 67’s in Game 2 of their OHL Eastern Conference semifinal series, which now shifts to the nation’s capital
Co-captain Cole Beaudoin opened the scoring and then added two more assists as the Barrie Colts defeated the Ottawa 67’s, 5-3, in Game 2 of their Ontario Hockey League Eastern Conference semifinal to take a 2-0 series lead.
Ahead 3-2 at the second intermission Saturday night, the Colts scored twice in the third to take a three-goal lead and staved off some anxious movements after Ottawa’s Frankie Marelli scored with 5:19 left to bring his team within two.
The Colts got four consecutive goals from Calvin Crombie, Carter Lowe, Emil Hemming and Ben Wilmott to go up by three just before the mid-point of the final frame.
Spencer Bowes and Cooper Foster had scored to give the 67’s a short-lived 2-1 lead.
Parker von Richter and Mason Zebeski each had two assists for the Colts.
Ben Hrebik had another steady night in between the pipes for Barrie, making 32 saves, while Ryder Fetterolf turned aside 30 shots for Ottawa.
Fetterolf, who led the OHL in many goaltending statistical categories during the regular season, has fought the puck at times through two games. Hemming’s goal from a sharp angle early in the third dribbled in between his legs and many of the 4,265 fans at the sold-out Sadlon Arena let him know it wasn’t his best moment.
Hemming’s marker, his sixth of the post-season in just seven games, turned out to be the winning goal.
The 67’s played without towering defenceman David Bedkowski, who was suspended for two games for picking up a match penalty for spearing Kashawn Aitcheson in Game 1. He will be eligible to return in Game 4.
The best-of-seven series now travels to the nation’s capital for games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively, and will return to Barrie, if necessary, for Game 5 next Saturday.