It was shaping up to easily be the most exciting game of the weekend.
And fortunately for the Barrie Colts, they were the ones who came out on top.
Two third-period goals led the Colts to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over the Eastern Conference-leading Ottawa 67’s on Saturday night.
“We were pretty ecstatic in the room after,” said Colts defenceman Alex Lepkowski, who picked up the game winner. “It’s a great win for the boys, a big character win.
“It’s getting to the point of the year where everything is culminating towards a peak and we’re showing that we can play with the big boys.”
Getting four points out of six, while playing three games in as many nights against a trio of division leaders, is no small feat.
“Of course it’s really important,” said Barrie goaltender Mathias Niederberger, who made 30 saves and was the game’s first star. “We try to set a certain level for the playoffs now and we work hard for it.
“That means we have to play great against the best teams in the league and I think this weekend, we did that.”
The opening period had plenty of flow, but was empty in the goal department.
Barrie stuck with the 67’s throughout the first 20 minutes, and had a great chance to pull ahead when Anthony Camara sent a pass in front of the net for Tanner Pearson, but the league’s second-best scorer couldn’t get his stick at the right angle to deflect it in.
Ottawa’s top opportunity of the first period came while shorthanded, when Sean Monahan broke in alone, past Ryan O’Connor, who would leave the game shortly after with an injury.
Niederberger forced Monahan to commit first and turned him aside, one of 10 stops in a scoreless opening frame.
It was more of the same in the middle stanza, as Niederberger and Ottawa goaltender Michael Nishi held their respective forts.
Barrie had a couple of power-play opportunities, but both Pearson and Ivan Telegin put pucks over top of the net.
Ottawa’s second man advantage of the contest saw John McFarland get a couple of good chances, one from the side of the goal and the other in front of the net, but he couldn’t pull the trigger when he needed to.
Niederberger then turned aside Mike Cazzola in close, and got a good break when the overage forward couldn’t reach a rebound while the German netminder was down and out.
Despite a combined 34 shots through 40 minutes, there were still no goals to speak of.
It didn’t take long for things to get going in the third, though.
Less than two minutes in, Cazzola found Shane Prince streaking up the middle of the ice and hit him cleanly, leading the Ottawa Senators prospect in alone on Niederberger.
The goalie made the first move, allowing Prince to go around Niederberger and deposit the puck in the back of the net to give Ottawa a 1-0 lead.
It seemed as though things could go from bad to worse when Gregg Sutch was whistled down for interference.
But Colin Behenna, in almost a mirror image from his goal on Friday night, chipped a puck past Ottawa captain Marc Zanetti and beat him to it, breaking in on Nishi and going to the far side to even the game at 1-1.
Behenna celebrated and his teammates, who were clearly rejuvenated, followed their captain.
The Colts continued to block shots, get their sticks in the way, and play tough hockey.
“We improved our physical game a lot and it’s important we (set) the physical tone,” Niederberger said.
With a tight game, it would be a lucky bounce that decided things.
Lepkowski took a shot from the point that appeared to redirect off of Zanetti and fooled Nishi, beating the 67’s goaltender to give Barrie a 2-1 lead that it wouldn’t relinquish.
“I’m not really sure (how it happened),” Lepkowski said. “I was just reading the puck off of the boards, ended up taking the shot, and it seemed to have eyes to go in.”
He wouldn’t get a chance to celebrate like his captain, because Lepkowski was quickly mobbed after the goal.
“Camara jumped me there,” said Lepkowski, laughing. “It’s ok though, I’m not much of a celly guy. Hands up in the air is all I’ve got.”
Niederberger held the fort the rest of the way, making 13 third-period stops to bring his three-day total to 110.
“’Bergy stood on his head,” Lepkowski said. “He’s like a third defenceman out there, helping us out, and he played great. We all did well defensively.”
The points will push Barrie three points clear of Sudbury, and while the Wolves fell to last-placed Erie on Saturday night, the Colts are brimming with confidence after knocking off another division leader.
“It’s a huge bounce,” Lepkowski said. “We’re trying to work our way back up the standings and those wins are going to help us stick on that track for the rest of the season.”
The Colts are off until Friday, when they head to Mississauga to take on the Majors.
