The Barrie Colts took a 2-1 lead in their first-round OHL playoff series Tuesday night, using a dominant first period and a two-goal third to beat the Niagara IceDogs 5-2 at Meridian Centre in St. Catharines.

The win came with star defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson back in the lineup after a two-game suspension for exceeding the league's fighting threshold in the final game of the regular season. The New York Islanders prospect made his presence felt immediately, laying a big first-period hit on Ivan Galiyanov before scoring the eventual winner on a one-timer late in the second period.

"It was the best feeling being out here and battling with these guys. I'm just excited to do it for another two months."

Aitcheson told Barrie 360 the two games he spent watching from the sidelines were "the hardest two games to watch," adding he hated seeing his teammates "go to war" without him.

A familiar spot delivers the winner

The game-winner came on the power play, with Aitcheson set up in his usual spot at the top of the faceoff circle. Brad Gardiner put the puck on his tee, and Aitcheson's shot flew over the glove of Niagara goaltender Vladislav Yermolenko and into the top corner.

"Anywhere you put it, I'll get it off," Aitcheson said. "Get it off as quickly as you can. Catch the goalie by surprise, and my shot being pretty hard helps a little bit, too."

The goal was the 22nd... none of his regular-season production has slowed in the playoffs for the OHL's top-scoring defenceman, who finished the season with 28 goals and 70 points in 56 games.

Balanced attack and special teams

Gardiner opened the scoring in the first, a lead Niagara's Noah Reed erased 28 seconds later. Emil Hemming also scored for Barrie, which outshot the IceDogs 20-3 in the opening frame. Former Colt Riley Patterson pulled Niagara even at 2-2 midway through the second before Aitcheson restored the lead.

An unsportsmanlike penalty to Yermolenko early in the third proved costly. Joe Salandra scored on the ensuing power play just 1:16 into the period, and Ben Wilmott sealed it with an empty-net goal with 2:11 remaining. Wilmott and Gardiner each finished with a goal and two assists.

Barrie's power play went 2-for-4, while the penalty kill held Niagara scoreless on four chances, including a three-minute stretch after Calvin Crombie took a five-minute major, fighting instigator penalty and game misconduct for a check from behind on Haydon Reid early in the second period. Crombie's hit is likely to be reviewed by the league, Barrie 360 reported.

"He's an emotional leader for us, and having Kash back in the lineup for us was big," head coach Dylan Smoskowitz said. "He brought energy. He brought life to our room, and the guys fed off that."

What's next

The Colts can take a stranglehold on the best-of-seven series in Game 4 Thursday night in St. Catharines, with a chance to wrap things up at home Saturday.

"I think we're going to treat every game in this series, and in all series, like it's our last," Aitcheson said. "It's just about getting four wins."