Staying Alive Day 2

Tommy Hughes (OHL Images)

Day two of the staying alive weekend made the stop in Barrie, Ontario for game 6 of the OHL Finals between the London Knights and the Barrie Colts and the fans were treated to a doubleheader by both teams. The London Knights scored at 1:30 of the first overtime to give the Knights a 5-4 win and send the game back to London Monday for a game 7. That was the easy part but getting to the overtime session was a story in it's own.

London came out like gangbusters taking the game to Barrie scoring the game's first goal just 2:25 into the game and silencing the Barrie fans very quickly. 5:29 later at 7:54, Tommy Hughes (NYR 2013 UFA) picked up his first goal of the playoffs using a slapper from the point to make it a 2-0 London lead. It was Hughes first goal since the 2nd game of the regular season all the way back to September 23rd.

Mitchell Theoret (OHL Images)

London would build a 4-0 lead that they took into the 3rd period looking like game 7 was a sure thing. Then Mitchell Theoret (NYI 2011 7th) put on what has to be the best 20 minutes he has played in the 2 seasons I have covered him. It started innocently enough with Barrie on the power play and with Theoret camped in the crease, the puck worked it's way to Theoret who tapped the puck over to the over side of the crease to a wide open Andreas Athanasiou who had a wide open net to score Barrie's first goal at 4:55 of the 3rd.

The Colts had some life but they didn't make their big push until there was less than 5 minutes remaining in regulation. Barrie scored at 15:07 to make it 4-2 and then Theoret found the puck right in the slot and banged in the rebound of his own shot into the net to make 4-3 at 15:32. The game made it to the final minute of regulation when with their goalie pulled for an extra attacker, Barrie got the puck again to the front of the net where Theoret was waiting and he scored his 2nd goal of the game to tie the score and force overtime.

Theoret's 2-1-3 effort earned him the game's 2nd star as Theoret improves to 13-6-19 (3rd goals, 11th total points).

Not sure which was the bigger story that Barrie has blown a 3-1 series lead or that London almost self-destructed in the 3rd period to end their season? In any event Monday now becomes winner take all for the OHL title and the right to represent the OHL in the Memorial Cup.

Upon Further Review

The WHL did change the scoring on Edmonton's first goal against Portland in game 5 giving the credit to T.J. Foster instead of Michael St. Croix. Without even bothering to ask, St. Croix is only focused on Sunday when Edmonton must win to force a game 7 Monday evening in Portland.

Game 6 starts at 3 PM PDT or right in the middle of the 2nd period of the New York Ranger's game 6.