Wolves battle hard, but losing streak continues

The script might have deviated from the norm at times, but the end result was more of the same as the Sudbury Wolves took yet another loss, this time to the Barrie Colts, stretching their streak to 14 straight.

An early first period goal by the Colts' Brendan Lemieux put the home side down 1-0, but the Wolves showed some resolve and took the play to Barrie, firing 18 shots at World Junior invitee Mackenzie Blackwood.

The Barrie netminder showed why he's being considered to represent the nation this winter, making a number of big saves, but a lapse in composure cost him as he was ejecte­d during a skirmish late in the first period on an attempt to injure match penalty.

The Wolves quickly responded in the second, attacking backup netminder Ruan Badenhorst and beating him twice in the opening five minutes on a pair of powerplay goals from Dmitry Sokolov.

The 2-1 lead held for just six minutes, before the Colts rallied for three straight goals, including Lemieux's second, sandwiched between goals from Adrian Carbonara and Cordell James.

Matt Schmalz pulled the Wolves back within one with a little more than two minutes left in second frame, and a late-period powerplay gave the Wolves a chance to draw level heading into the third.

It was not to be however, as Kevin Labanc buried his 13th goal of the season, shorthanded, to put the Colts up 5-3 .

Once again though, the Wolves answered with Matt Schmalz finding twine, making it his second goal of the night with just 15 seconds left in the frame, bringing the score to 5-4 for the Colts after two.

The Wolves made a goaltending change of their own, with coach Dave Matsos opting to go with Matthew Menna to start the third period.

Menna was solid, stopping all 12 shots he faced but the Wolves were unable to find a tying goal, and a Colts goal into an empty net rounded out the scoring for a 6-4 Barrie win.