A first period offensive barrage and a two-goal performance from Willy Johnson powered Colorado to a 6-2 victory over the visiting Oklahoma Warriors on Friday night.
The visitors got the scoring started when Warrior forward Sebastian Speck finished off a two-on one and banged the puck past Colorado goaltender Jack Erickson to give Oklahoma the early 1-0 lead on the power play just 4:16 into the first period. The Grit offense quickly countered with a tying goal of their own. It took just five seconds for the grip to convert on their first power play of the night when defenseman Alex German snapped a wrist shot past Oklahoma goaltender Billy Stuski to tie the game, 1-1, with 14:33 remaining in the first period. The home side grabbed two more goals in a hurry midway through the frame. Center Alec Babineau took advantage of a turnover in the Warrior zone and roofed a shot past Stuski to give the Grit a 2-1 lead at the 9:12 mark of the first period. Center George Poirier got his name on the score sheet less than 50 seconds later when he guided a shot from the point past Stuski to double the advantage, 3-1. Another redirection effort got the Grit a fourth tally and chased Stuski from the game. A wrist shot from the right point off Luke Helgesonโs stick was tipped home by Luc Bydal, who extended his point streak to three games, and opened up Colorado’s lead, 4-1 with 5:33 remaining in the first period.
Midway through the second., Oklahoma received a lifeline back into the contest on the power play again. Moments after the Grit were unable to convert on a two-on-one opportunity, forward Joey DeRosa found a pocket of space in the high slot and placed a wrist shot over the glove of Erickson and into the back of the net. The second power play goal of the night for the visitors closed the score to 4-2 with 9:14 remaining in the second period. For the second time in as many periods, the Grit were able to find a response. Rookie defenseman Cole Peters sent a shot on net that pinballed to the stick of Willie Johnson, who promptly punched the puck into the back of the net to restore the three goal cushion, 5-2, with 440 remaining in the second period.ย
A rugged, defensive theme highlighted the final 20 minutes as Colorado looked to lock down their third consecutive home win. The Warriorsโ best opportunity in the third period came on the power play when Lucca Ori was sent to the box for slashing with 13:19 remaining in regulation. Three of the Warriors seven shots in the final frame were directed at Erickson, who parried them all with ease en route to the 25-save win. Johnson finished off the victory with his eighth goal of the season minutes later – snapping a one-timer from the right wing faceoff circle past Jones to make it 6-2 with 8:07 left in the period to close out the scoring.
