Game 6 Preview
After rolling into Budweiser Gardens and forcing a Game 6 back at the Bayshore, the Owen Sound Attack will look to extend the series yet again on Sunday, Apr. 2.
The Attack and London Knights will meet for the 6th game of their Western Conference Quarterfinal series at 2:00pm at the Bayshore on Sunday, and they guaranteed themselves a chance to make it a seven game affair in thrilling fashion on Friday night.
A howitzer by Attack import Petrus Palmu with 3:36 gone in the Game 5’s extra frame vaulted the Attack to a 4-3 win over the London Knights, and pulled Owen Sound to within one game of the best of seven series.
Palmu’s goal was his 3rd of the playoffs and came after goals by Jonah Gadjovich, Santino Centorame, and Josh Sterk in front of 9000 fans in London on Friday night.
Trailing 3-1 entering the game and facing a do-or-die situation, the Attack and Knights traded goals in the first period with London taking a 1-0 and 2-1 lead at times in the opening 20 minutes of action.
But Owen Sound never said die.
The Bayshore Boys responded within one minute of each of London’s goals in the first period thanks to the tallies by Gadjovich and Centorame, and eventually the Attack would go ahead by a goal on Sterk’s seeing-eye snapshot late in the middle stanza.
After losing both Games 3 and 4 on home ice, Owen Sound was looking to replicate their Game 2 success in London by scoring into an empty net, but a furious push by the Knights would see Aaron Berisha tie the game up with less than three minutes left in regulation and force overtime.
That’s when Palmu would step in, and give the Attack fans who made the trip to London, and those back in the Scenic City something to cheer about.
Own Sound’s success thus far in the series has been in large part to their special teams prowess, even though Palmu’s game winning goal in Game 5 was an even strength marker.
Through five games, the Attack have scored on 32 percent (8 of 25) of their Baywest Nissan Powerplay opportunities, while stymieing 16 of 20 London man advantages. The Attack’s Paul Davis Systems Penalty Kill prowess has included a stunning 92.9% success rate at Budweiser Gardens.
Ethan Szypula leads the Attack offence through the series’ first five games, pocketing seven assists to put him one point of Palmu’s three goals and three assists.
London’s Mitchell Marner continues to pace the Knights, having scored four times and added seven assists of his own for 11 points in five contests.
While Marner and co-captain Christian Dvorak have managed to combine for 19 points in the series, the Attack have largely shut down the vaunted Knights offence thanks to a complete team buy-in to a defensive strategy that has seen the team stop London from gaining any time and space in the offensive zone.
The Attack will look to do that again on Sunday, and force the game back to London on Tuesday, Apr. 5 for a deciding 7th game.
TIckets for Sunday’s game are available for purchase at the DJ’s Furniture Attack Box Office, which is open until 4:00pm on Saturday and will re-open on game day at 9:00am, by calling 519-371-7452, or by visiting www.attackhockey.com.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early to the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre to avoid lines at the will-call and at the entrances.
The Weekend Preview is presented by Joe Tomato’s, located next to the Galaxy Cinemas on the Sunset Strip. Following every Attack Home game, fans can enjoy half priced wings and appetizers at Joe Tomato’s simply by presenting their ticket stub.
This season of Attack Hockey is brought to you by Caframo.
