Mathias Niederberger proved how important great goaltending is in playoff hockey.
The 19-year-old native of Germany stopped 65 shots as the Barrie Colts defeated the host Ottawa 67's 3-2, in double overtime, in Ontario Hockey League playoff action Sunday.
Niederberger, who earned the game's first star, stopped 25 shots in extra time alone while Colin Behenna scored the winning goal at 9:53 of the second overtime period.
"We were hoping to just get pucks to net and we finally got a break," Behenna said about his winner. "It says a lot about our veterans how we found a way to win. What a game."
Ivan Telegin scored once and set up two more for the Colts, who won their second overtime game of the post-season, while Mark Scheifele had a goal and an assist.
Tyler Toffoli scored his eighth goal of the playoffs for the 67's and Jake Cardwell had the other.
Petr Mrazek stopped 39 shots in a losing effort.
Neither club could score on the power play as Barrie went 0 for 3 and Ottawa 0 for 5.
The second-round series is now tied 1-1 with Game 3 scheduled for Tuesday at the Barrie Molson Centre.
Elsewhere in the OHL, it was: Niagara 3, Brampton 1; Plymouth 2, Kitchener 0; and Saginaw 5, London 2.
At Ottawa, the 67's managed 15 shots in the opening period but it was Sheifele who scored at 18:41 to give Barrie a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play.
Telegin scored short-handed at 7:52 of the second period to give the Colts a two-goal lead.
Niederberger stopped 29 shots through the first two period of action before Cardwell finally got Ottawa on the board at 5:59 of the third.
Toffoli tied the game game less than three minutes later.
Ottawa dominated the first extra period, out shooting Barrie 19-8, but neither club could score.
Behenna finally ended the game 9:53 into the second overtime.
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IceDogs 3 Battalion 1
At Brampton, Ont., Dougie Hamilton set up two third-period goals and Mark Visentin turned away 22 shots as Niagara defeated the Battalion to take a 2-0 lead in their second round matchup.
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Whalers 2 Rangers 0
At Kitchener, Ont., Scott Wedgewood stopped all 26 shots he faced and Matthew Mistele and Andy Bathgate scored 66 seconds apart as Plymouth blanked the Rangers to tie the series 1-1.
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Spirit 5 Knights 2
At Saginaw, Mich., Brandon Saad, Vincent Trocheck and Michael Fine combined for three goals and eight points as the Spirit evened their series with London 1-1.
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