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Photos: Wolves battle through crossfire to claim victory

Barrie Colts defeated 4-2 at the Sudbury Community Arena

The Sudbury Wolves went head to head against the Barrie Colts at the Sudbury Community Arena Friday night, in what would turn out to be another penalty-ridden game for the fans in blue and white. 

Looking to redeem themselves from Monday's loss, the pack wasted no time establishing an early lead, giving them an edge over the boys down Highway 69.

The Colts managed to find their place on the scoreboard midway through the game but ultimately fell to a 4-2 final against their northern hosts.

Sudbury claimed all three stars of the matchup, starting with rookie Kosta Manikis, Mitchell Weeks and Quinton Byfield, who is tied for the league lead in points.

The first period got off to a relatively slow start thanks to an impressive show between the pipes by Wolves' goalie Weeks and Colts' Artus Silovs, who each faced several early-game shots. But there was just no way the Wolves were leaving the first period empty-handed.

Byfield broke through the stalemate with his ninth goal of the season 15:12 into the period, with assistance by David Levin and Manikis. He followed the performance a little more than four minutes later with his second goal of the night and 10th of the season, thanks again to teammates Manikis and Levin. 

The late-period action brought tension to the ice, but no net action by the Colts, allowing the Wolves to carry a 2-0 lead into the second period with shots on goal an even 8-8. 

Both teams returned to the ice fists-first, spending the majority of the second period swapping seats in the penalty box. This carried on until Colts' Tyler Tucker scored his second goal of the season halfway through the period, with assistance by Tyson Foerster and Luke Bignell. 

Foerster returned to the net four minutes later to score his eighth of the season, to level the scoreboard to an even 2-2 heading into the final frame. Battling from behind, the Colts outshot the Wolves 12-3 in the period. 

The third period got off to another rough start, but the Wolves had bigger fish to fry this late in the game. Sudbury Wolves' Manikis scored the game-winning goal and his first of the season 9:30 into the period, with help from Levin and Byfield. 

The Colts responded with a number of shots from their end of the ice but ended up spending more time roughhousing than celebrating goals. Wolves' Shane Bulitka delivered Sudbury's insurance goal with 10 seconds remaining in play, allowing the pack to claim a 4-2 final. 

All in all the Barrie Colts spent 31 minutes in the penalty box to the Wolves 22 minutes, for a number of calls including fighting, roughing, tripping, high-sticking, and slashing. Final shots on goal were 26-22 in favour of the Southern visitors. 

The Sudbury Wolves sit third overall, second in the Eastern Conference and first in the Central Division, with seven wins and four early-season losses. 

The pack kick off their extended road trip at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre tonight, facing off against the Owen Sound Attack at 7:30 p.m. They return home Nov. 2 to take on the Peterborough Petes. 


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