Attack Lose OT Thriller to Otters 4-3
The Owen Sound Attack took on the Erie Otters on Wednesday night in what turned into yet another close affair at the Bayshore with the fans braving the weather being bounced an extra period of hockey. Despite a great effort, the Otters came out on top 4-3 in overtime. Leading the way for the Attack was rookie Pierce Mbuyi who stayed red hot with 2 goals, Landen Hookey with 2 assists and Cole Zurawski with the other goal, while Matthew Koprowski made 42 saves in the loss. Not to be outdone Martin Misiak had 2 goals including the OT winner for the Otters, while Sam Alfano and Wesley Royston each added a goal.
The Attack came out flying in period 1 pushing the pace and pressuring the Otters at every turn and the Bears were rewarded with multiple power play opportunities early on. The Bears found a way to convert with just a second left in the two man advantage, when Hookey fed the cross ice pass to Mbuyi who slid the puck under the pad of an outstretched Noah Erliden to make it 1-0 for the Attack. The Attack would continue to pressure the Otters and create quality scoring chances and were rewarded once again late in the period when Bruce McDonald stole the puck from his former team in the offensive zone and waited for support, all the time pulling Erliden more to the one side of the net. While doing this Cole Zurawski snuck down the far wing and buried home the perfect pass from McDonald to make it 2-0 Attack. Matthew Koprowski was called upon to make a number of quality saves throughout the first and was able to shutdown the Otters.
While the Attack continued to attempt to apply pressure in the middle frame, the Otters had a bounce back period, countering the Bears at every turn. They were eventually rewarded when Misiak beat Koprowski while on the power play to cut the Attack lead to 2-1 near the middle of the period. The chess match continued but the Otters would find the equalizer with just 6 seconds remaining in the period, when Alfano stole the puck after an Attack miscue with the puck in defensive end and buried it past Koprowski to even the score at 2.
Starting the third on a two man advantage the Attack waste anytime regaining the lead, when just 38 seconds Mbuyi and Hookey hooked up again for Mbuyi’s second of the game to make it 3-2. Unfortunately for the Attack the Otters would even it up again a little over 4 minutes later when Royston put the puck into a wide open net finishing off a nice 3-on-1 passing play to tie the game at 3. For the second straight game we were destined for overtime, however, it would not work out in our favour, as shortly after two high quality chances by James Petrovski and Hookey, Misiak went work with a great move to beat the Attack defender than lifted it over the glove of Koprowski for the game winner, 4-3 Otters.
The Attack continue their homestead with a weekend set, Saturday, February 1 against the Ottawa 67’s then Sunday, February 2 against Konnor Smith and the Brampton Steelheads. Please note, game time Saturday is 4pm, while Sunday is 2pm. Sunday is an Investment Planning Counsel Sunday with lots of great giveaways for the kids including two jersey certificates, a VIP meet and greet with your favourite players and the first 200 kids receive a free popcorn courtesy of Investment Planning Counsel. Sunday is also the Attack Sunglasses giveaway day with the first 3,000 into the game receiving a free pair of Attack Sunglasses. Tickets for all Attack home games can be purchased at the MacVicar & McComb Sutton Realty Attack Box Office, over the phone at 519-371-7452 and online at tickets.attackhockey.com.
