Brampton, ON 25 March 08 - Daniel Michalsky scored at 19:50 of overtime to lift the Barrie Colts to a 2-1 victory Tuesday night over the Brampton Battalion, moving the Colts within one game of winning their Ontario Hockey League first-round playoff series.

The goal by Michalsky, who scored in overtime Saturday night in a 3-2 home-ice victory in Game 2, gave upset-minded Barrie a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal.

Game 5 is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at Brampton, with the sixth game, if necessary, at Barrie at 7:30 p.m. next Saturday.

Michalsky's goal, his third of the series, came after a scoreless third period and at the end of a thrilling overtime frame. Battalion defender John de Gray had his helmet knocked off behind the Troops' net and, under OHL rules, had to leave the ice. Replacement Bobby Sanguinetti couldn't get into the play before Michalsky scored into a gaping cage after a pass from Tomas Marcinko deep on the left wing.

The second-seeded Battalion peppered Barrie goaltender Michael Hutchinson with 63 shots, including 16 in overtime, but only Cody Hodgson beat him, early in the game.

The Troops had the only two power plays of overtime. Battalion goaltender Bryan Pitton foiled Mitch Lebar on a breakaway coming out of the penalty box in the 12th minute, and a sprawling Hutchinson robbed Kyle DeCoste with a glove save at 14:03 during the second power play.

Seventh-seeded Barrie's Ryan Gottschalk scored in the second period against Pitton, who faced 31 shots, 10 of them in overtime.

Gottschalk tied it 1-1 at 12:02 of the second period. Lebar found defenceman Gottschalk, who scored on a high backhander, driving through the right-wing circle.

Barrie was on the power play early in the period when Marcinko went down exceedingly easily upon being checked, landing on Pitton. Marcinko and Sanguinetti received minors for slashing and crosschecking respectively.

Pitton dove to intercept a high pass from the left wing destined for Alex Hutchings at the goalmouth off a three-on-one rush at 11:41, and the Battalion threatened late in the period with Marcinko off for a check to the head. Matt Duchene, Luke Lynes and Sanguinetti buzzed Hutchinson's net.

Hodgson got the Battalion off to a good start with his fifth goal of the series at 3:00 of the first period. Jason Dale, on the left-wing boards, fed the puck to the onrushing Hodgson in the slot, with Sanguinetti earning the other assist.

After the Battalion's Thomas Stajan steered the puck just wide of the left post, Barrie's Dalton Prout drew a penalty for checking from behind seconds later, at 4:22. Stefan Della Rovere followed for goaltender interference at 5:55, putting the Troops up two men for 29 seconds, but they couldn't pad the lead.

Barrie received three more penalties to the Battalion's one before the period ended, with the Troops carrying the bulk of the play on the way to a 12-5 edge in shots.

The Battalion has lost its last six playoff games at Barrie. The Troops' last postseason win on Colts ice was a 2-1 decision March 29, 2003, in the sixth and final game of a conference quarterfinal.

The Battalion scratched Ben Alavie, Matt Clark, Alexander Eriksson and Mike Lomas, none of whom has seen action in the series. Barrie scratches were Brett Halstead, Marcus Pepe, Adam Payerl and Cory McGillis.

BATTALION NOTEBOOK: Attendance at the Barrie Molson Centre was 3,434 … The Battalion went 0-for-10 on the power play. Barrie was 0-for-3 … The Battalion has an all-time won-lost record of 25-38 in playoff games, including 12-20 on the road … Battalion coach Stan Butler was behind the bench for his 75th OHL postseason game. He has a record of 29-46, including a 4-8 mark in two seasons with the Oshawa Generals … The Troops, who trailed a playoff series 2-1 for the sixth time in club history, are seeking their first series win in such circumstances. They are 1-5 in the fourth game when behind 2-1, with the lone win a 3-0 decision over the visiting Erie Otters in a 1999-00 Western Conference quarterfinal. Erie took the next two games … Hodgson has scored at least one goal in each series game, including two in the third game … Pitton and Hutchinson have played the entire series … Opening Battalion line combinations included Hodgson centring left winger Cory Emmerton and right winger Dale, Stajan skating between left winger Graham McNabb and right winger John Hughes and Duchene centring left winger Lynes and right winger DeCoste. Scott Tanski centred left winger Luke VanMoerkerke and right winger Kody Musselman … Alavie has a broken collarbone … Eriksson is out for the season after knee surgery … Lomas has a charley horse … Halstead, who hasn't played since the opener, sat out with an upper-body injury, while Pepe was sidelined after a collision near the end of Game 3, in which he scored Barrie's goal in a 5-1 loss at Brampton … McGillis served the fourth game of a five-game suspension for bullying … Colts defenceman Jaroslav Kruzik made his series debut.