It was perhaps one of the craziest games the Sudbury Wolves played this season and they brought the offence, beating out Barrie 6-5.
Sudbury trailed 3-1 after the first period, scored three unanswered in the second and let the Colts have a little life at the end.
“I didn’t enjoy it one bit, like at all,” said Head Coach David Matsos. “It’s typical for teams to play in that passive mode in the third period but allowed a little bit of life, they started working off of forechecks. I thought we played a little bit too much east-west I would have rather just got it behind their net, just worked their goaline but end result is what it is and we’re happy about it.”
The game featured goals, tons of shots, a fight and yes, some dancing.
In the dying seconds of the game with Sudbury’s lead at 6-5, Michael Pezzetta’s helmet was knocked off as he shot for the empty net, he jumped back into the play as C.J.Yakimowicz scored what he thought was a goal to make it 7-5.
Pezzetta took exception to the hit and dropped the gloves with Kade Landry after the goal, which was a one sided affair in favour of the Wolves assistant captain.
A number of penalties were called on the play including one each to Darian Pilon and Drake Pilon who then gave the crowd a show by doing the YMCA in unison in the penalty box.
“Why do you think I sent them to the box, I had enough I mean come on guys go to your home you guys sit in there enough, the benches are warm in there,” Matsos joked. “They’re characters, I don’t think anybody in this crowd can’t appreciate those two for what they do, but I couldn’t take the YMCA on the bench.”
The refs then waved off the goal and Barrie had a six-on-three with nine second left in the game and the score sitting at 6-5.
But the Wolves avoided a comeback and also did something they weren’t able to do last weekend, take advantage of a team below them in the standings.
“It’s all about closing games out, once this stretch run is over and the playoffs start, if we get there which we’re obviously planning on it, these are the types of games that you got to figure out how to close out no matter what,” said Matsos.
Matsos also hopes to never see a game like this again.
“I like the two points absolutely, wouldn’t be how I’d want to continue to play the rest of the way in, but two points is two points,” said Matsos.
Aiden Jamieson had himself a night getting a goal and two assists.
The veteran knows how important the stretch games are.
“It’s huge right now, every game’s pretty crucial at this point in the season, fighting to get into a better playoff spot. I think we came together as a team tonight and closed it out and we got to do more of that,” said Jamieson.
There were a number of Wolves who contributed to the win including Owen Lalonde who scored his first career OHL goal.
It couldn’t have come at a better time either as it was the eventual game winner.
“It feels pretty good, a long time coming but you know it was good timing I guess. Good pass by Jamieson there, but I’m just happy I contributed to the team and getting those two points,” said Lalonde.
Matsos was happy to see the Wolves 2016 first round pick break through.
“As much as everybody says it doesn’t weigh on you, you still want to get it over with and done,” said Matsos.
Other leaders on the night for Sudbury were Liam Dunda who had a goal and two assists with a +3 rating, Dmitry Sokolov scored twice on the power play to bring his season total up to 42 and Macauley Carson netted number 24 and added a helper.
Here’s how the game went down.
The Barrie Colts scored two goals on their first three shots.
The Wolves killed off two straight tripping penalties to start the game but on even strength Kyle Heitzner went top right corner for the first goal.
49 seconds later and Ben Hawerchuk scored off a tip-in.
Sudbury got one back with a tip-in of their own.
C.J. Yakimowicz shot the puck toward the net from the right side of the Barrie zone and Aiden Jamieson who was skating past the net got his stick on it to tip it past Ruan Badenhorst for his 3rd of the season.
But on a late power play for the Wolves, Anthony Stefano was sent on a breakaway and he scored his 19th of the season.
It was also Sudbury’s league leading 16th short handed goal against on the season.
The first period saw Sudbury outshoot Barrie 13-10 and out play them in big spurts but the Colts took advantage of all their chances and led 3-1.
The second was one of Sudbury’s better home periods of the season, as Sudbury outshot Barrie 21-3 and outscored them 3-0.
Just under three minutes in, Liam Dunda put in his 9th of the season off a beautiful pass by Macauley Carson.
The Wolves trailed by one for nearly another 10 minutes before Carson got his 24th of the year by doing what he does best, getting to the front of the net.
The point shot by Patrick Sanvido hit Badenhorst in the neck protector and Carson put the rebound in to tie the game at 3-3.
Dmitry Sokolov was given too much time to wind up for a slap shot on the power play and wired home his 41st for the lead.
The momentum continued in the third period as again on the power play Sokolov got number two and number 42 on the season with another hard shot.
Jason Willms made it 5-4, before Lalonde got his first off a point shot.
Ben Hawerchuk kept the fans in their seats with a goal with just over two and a half to play.
Sudbury moves to 23-27-7-0 on the season and got some breathing room as North Bay and Niagara both lost.
“It sets the tone for the rest of the weekend, we’re going to be going into the game feeling good tomorrow, but Mississauga’s a good team so we got to come out harder probably tomorrow,” said Jamieson.
Sudbury sits at 53 points in 6th in the Eastern Conference five up on Ottawa who beat Oshawa.
The Wolves have a busy rest of the weekend playing Mississauga on Saturday night then heading to Mississauga for a 2 pm start on Sunday.
A Steelheads team who demolished Peterborough 10-1 on Friday night.
