Attack’s 2nd Period Rally Not Enough, Fall 7-3 to Otters

Attack’s 2nd Period Rally Not Enough, Fall 7-3 to Otters

The Owen Sound Attack fought hard in their final matchup with the Erie Otters tonight, but fell short 7-3. The Attack put 38 shots on netminder Charlie Burns, Burns turned away 35 of the Attack’s shots. Landen Hookey, Harry Nansi and Alec Leonard were all goalscorers for the Attack tonight. Malcolm Spence found the back of the net twice tonight, marking goals number 28 and 29 of his season. Sam Alfano, Martin Misiak, Tyler Challenger, Wesley Royston and Pano Fimis all put goals on the board for the Otters tonight.

Both teams in the first period went on a man advantage but weren’t able to get the puck past two locked in goaltenders starting off the game. The Attack generated multiple strong scoring chances on their powerplay chances throughout the entire first period, but were unfortunately haulted by Charlie Burns who ended up stopping all 12 shots faced in the frame. The Otters broke the deadlock with five minutes left in the period during 4-on-4 action. Malcolm Spence read the Attack’s breakout perfectly, turning the puck over along the Attack’s blue line giving him his fourth breakaway attempt throughout this weekend’s double header. Spence walked in and sniped it top right corner, getting the Otter’s fans on their feet and putting his team up by one. Unfortunately, the Otters would add onto their momentum just three minutes later on the penalty kill. Spence skated hard at Pierce Mbuyi while he was breaking out from behind the Attack’s net and stripped the puck from him. Spence wrapped around the net with speed, opening up room for Sam Alfano to make his way into the slot all alone who blasted home his 37th goal of the season, and giving his team a 2-0 lead heading into the second period.

The second period showcased the Attack’s never quit mentality, needing any points they can get being in a tight playoff race. The Otter’s penalty kill once again stood tall putting another short-handed goal on the board just four minutes into the period. The puck would sneak out of the zone, landing on Spence’s stick, finding his second breakaway attempt of the night for his 2nd of the night, and a 3-0 lead for the Otters. The Attack quickly tightened up on both ends of the ice, not allowing the Otters to have many scoring chances throughout the remainder of the period. The Bears also potted the game’s next goal just five minutes later. The Attack slowed down play in the Otter’s zone, opening up room for Mbuyi to find time and space behind the Otter’s net. Mbuyi found Hookey all alone in the slot, Hookey ripped it at Charlie Burns who made the initial save but Hookey found the loose put and put away the rebound for the Attack’s first goal of the game. The Otters would respond just four minutes later due to an excellent stretch pass from Lucaa Ambrosia, giving Tyler Challenger a wide open breakaway opportunity. Challenger made a nice couple of fore-hand-back-hand dekes and got it by the glove of George, putting the Otters up 4-1. The Bears kept fighting throughout the remainder of the period. With a minute left in the period Lenny Greenberg was able to keep a clearing attempt in the Otter’s zone against a tired Otter’s group. Greenberg quickly skated towards the net generating a 3-on-2 opportunity for the Attack. Greenberg slid it over to the slot for Harry Nansi to rifle the puck past Burns putting the Attack only down by two, also marking his seventh goal of the season. The Bears didn’t stop there putting their third goal on the board with only five seconds left on the board. The Attack kept the pressure on in the Otter’s zone throughout the last sixty seconds, looking to generate a strong scoring chance. Hookey found himself in the right hand slot with a screened burns in front of him, he quickly fired it at the net causing havoc in front of the net. Petrovski picked up the loose puck and wrapped it around, finding Alec Leonard all alone in front of the net who sniped it bottom right corner, marking his third goal of the season and making this a one goal game.

Charlie Burns and the Otter’s offensive firepower overpowered the Attack in the third frame. Burns’ 35 saves were a big support for the Otters coming out of this period victorious. The Otter’s came out of the gates flying in the third period, potting their fifth goal of the night just two minutes into the frame. Martin Misiak received a nice drop pass behind the Attack’s net and quickly sent it over to Gabriel Frasca, who ripped it past George for the Otter’s fifth goal of the game and his twelfth of the season. The Otters added onto their momentum just four minutes later, having fresh bodies against a tired Attack penalty kill that had expired seconds prior to their sixth goal of the game. Misiak received the puck at the point all alone with bodies in front of George, Misiak took a hard wrist shot at the net but missed. Thankfully for the Otters Wesley Royston was able to find the loose puck and buried the rebound, doubling the Otter’s lead and marking his twelfth goal of the season. The Otters added another powerplay marker on the board with just three minutes left in the frame, for their seventh and final goal of the game. A strongly executed cycle opened up enough room for Pano Fimis in the slot to rip home his twenty seventh goal of the season, sealing the deal for the Otters with a 7-3 final.

The Owen Sound Attack will return to the Bayshore for three key Western Conference matchups. The Attack will start off their week hosting the Flint Firebirds on Wednesday, March 12th for a 7pm matchup. After a day of rest, they will return to the Bayshore for a 7:07pm matchup with the Guelph Storm. Finishing off the week for the Attack’s second last home game of the season, matching up with the Kitchener rangers on Saturday, March 15th. Tickets for for the final three regular season Attack home games can be purchased at the MacVicar & McComb Sutton Realty Attack Box Office, over the phone at 519-371-7452 or online at tickets.attackhockey.com. If you cannot attend the games, All Attack home games can be streamed on CHLtv and heard on 560 CFOS Bear Radio.

PLAYOFF PICTURE:

RECORD WATCH:. Rookie forward Pierce Mbuyi’s hot streak has him moving up the record books.  Heading into weekend play he sits 5 goals back of the record for Most Goals by a 16-year-old in Franchise history, currently held by Colby Barlow (30), 4 points back of the Most Points by a 16-year-old in Franchise history, currently co-held by Joey Hishon and Colby Barlow (47) and 16 points back of Most points by a Rookie in Franchise history, currently held by Cedrick Guindon (59).