Attack Fall in Overtime but Still Clinch Playoff Berth

It wasn’t the result that the Owen Sound Attack wanted, but despite a 6-5 overtime loss to the Guelph Storm Friday night, the Bears still clinch a playoff berth for the 11th straight season.

Entering the night there were two scenarios for the Attack to clinch their playoff birth, either a win over the Storm or to have the Erie Otters loose to the Hamilton Bulldogs.

It was shootout start at the Sleeman’s Centre Friday night, as the teams each put a pair of goals on the board less than four minutes after the opening face-off. It was Nicholas Porco and Cedrick Guindon who scored just 30 seconds apart to give the Attack a brief 2-0 lead. The Storm were able to answer with a pair of goals just a minute later, evening the score at 2’s. Owen Sound would then add three more goals before the period was over as they took a 5-2 lead into the intermission. It was William Portokalis, Ethan Burroughs and Servac Petrovsky all scoring, as the Attack displayed strong scoring depth in the opening period.

Guelph would start the second period with a goalie change as Jacob Oster replaced Owen Bennett who allowed 5 goals on just 11 shots. The teams continued to exchange chances to begin the second frame, but it was clear that the Storm were beginning to tilt the ice in their favour.

Owen Sound would show great resolve as they killed a second straight Storm power play, but were unable to make it three straight, as Guelph cut into the Bears lead with a power play marker on their third try. It was then just minutes later when a bad turnover in the defensive zone resulted in Owen Sound scrambling around, which allowed the Storm to cut the deficit to just a goal late in the second period.

The Attack were on full survival mode throughout the entire third period, as the Storm controlled the puck, pressing for the equalizer. It was just before the mid-way point of the period when the home team evened the game, but they wanted more. It was a couple of highlight saves by Attack goalie Corbin Votary that kept the visiting Bears from falling behind, as the net minder dragged his team to overtime, claiming an important point.

By this point the result of the Hamilton-Erie game was in, and with the Bulldogs shutting out the Otters, the Attack had clinched a playoff berth regardless of their game’s result. Though the Bears wanted that extra point as they continue to lead the Storm for 5th in the standings.

Unfortunately, it was Guelph’s Danny Zhilkin, who’s spinning shot eluded Votary just 37 seconds into overtime giving the Storm the 6-5 victory.

Owen Sound will wrap their weekend tomorrow night when they welcome the West leading Windsor Spitfires to the Bayshore.