They say home is where the heart is and that was certainly true Thursday night as the Barrie Colts won Game 5 of their best-of-seven Ontario Hockey League playoff series against the Hamilton Bulldogs.
With the 4-1 victory at Sadlon Arena, the Colts now lead the first-round series, 3-2, and can eliminate the Bulldogs with a victory in Game 6 on Monday night in Hamilton. If needed, Game 7 is set for Tuesday night back in Barrie.
Barrie captain Brandt Clarke led the offence with a three-point night (1G, 2A) in his return to the lineup following a one-game suspension, while Evan Vierling had a goal and an assist.
But the arena really erupted when goaltender Anson Thornton scored into an empty net with 31 seconds left.
GOALIE GOAL ALERT 🚨@ArizonaCoyotes prospect Anson Thornton scores his first career #OHL goal, as the @OHLBarrieColts netminder seals the deal in the most memorable way possible!
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 7, 2023
#OHLPlayoffs | #HAMvsBAR pic.twitter.com/FIOWnHarvr
The home team has now won every game in the series.
The Bulldogs opened the scoring five minutes into the first period when winger Nick Lardis potted his fourth of the series with a power-play marker. Assists went to Jorian Donovan and Lucas Moore.
Three minutes later, Clarke's point parade resumed right where it left off prior to his suspension.
With his team on a two-man advantage, Clarke added to his OHL-leading playoff point total with an assist on Jacob Frasca's third goal of the post-season. Vierling had the other helper on the game-tying goal.
Then Clarke helped set up Vierling for his first goal of the playoffs, also on the power play, a little over a minute later. Beau Jelsma had the secondary assist.
After a scoreless second period, the two teams traded chances before Clarke scored with a long-distance shot into the empty net for his fourth goal of the playoffs.
But they weren't done yet as Thornton fired the puck down the ice from behind the goal-line to make the final 4-1.
Clarke now leads the OHL playoff scoring race with four goals and 10 assists for 14 points.
Thornton stopped 23 of 24 shots to earn the win, while Hamilton's Matteo Drobac made 21 on 23 shots.
Game 6 will be played Monday night back in Hamilton in a 7 p.m. start at FirstOntario Centre.
Elsewhere around the OHL's Eastern Conference, the Peteborough Petes swept the Sudbury Wolves, while the North Bay Battalion and Mississauga Steelheads are knotted at 2-2. The Ottawa 67's have a 3-1 lead on the Oshawa Generals.
The Kitchener Rangers upset the Western Conference-leading Windsor Spitfires in a four-game sweep, while the London Knights eliminated the Owen Sound Attack, 4-0. The Sarnia Sting also have a 3-1 cushion on the Guelph Storm, while the Saginaw Spirit leads their series against the Flint Firebirds, 3-1.
Game 1 – Thursday, March 30 at Barrie – Colts 10, Bulldogs 2
Game 2 – Saturday, April 1 at Barrie – Colts 6, Bulldogs 3
Game 3 – Sunday, April 2 at Hamilton – Bulldogs 6, Colts 3
Game 4 – Tuesday, April 4 at Hamilton – Bulldogs 5, Colts 3
Game 5 – Thursday, April 6 at Barrie – Colts 4, Bulldogs 1
Game 6 – Monday, April 10 at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
Game 7 – Tuesday, April 11 at Barrie, 7:30 p.m. *
(* if necessary)
