Pair From Pearson Powers Attack in 4-3 Win Over Otters
Two points separated the Owen Sound Attack and Erie Otter as play began tonight at the Erie Insurance Arena in Pennsylvania. The Attack sat 7th in the conference with Erie trailing them in the 8th spot. The two teams split a pair of games two weeks ago in Erie, with the Attack getting the better of the Otters in the Saturday night affair. Through the season, Owen Sound leads the series two games to one. Mack Guzda received the start for Owen Sound while Aidan Campbell was in net for Erie. The lines were unchanged from Thursday night’s thumping of the IceDogs in Niagara.
The first period was a milder affair than the barnstorming opening frame on Thursday night in Niagara, with both teams coming out of the gates with quality scoring chances. Mack Guzda was sharp in the Attack crease, turning away nine Otters shots in the period including a few big saves on a penalty kill halfway through the stanza. Aidan Campbell was just as strong for the home team, making nine saves of his own. One of the bigger plays in the period was Mark Woolley laying a big hit on Mathew MacDougall that left the Otter in some discomfort, but MacDougall would return for the second.
Owen Sound has struggled in the 2nd period this season and it appeared their woes had returned tonight. Brendan Hoffman notched his 10th of the season on an unassisted effort thirty seconds in to put the Otters up 1-0. Kaleb Pearson scored his first career hat trick against Niagara, and it looked like his stick still had some magic left in it. Pearson sent a puck across the crease where it took a beneficial bounce off an Erie defender and past Campbell to tie the game at one apiece. Less than three minutes later, Brady Lyle found Pearson all alone in front of the Otters net with a defender nowhere in sight. The St. Marys forward had all the time in the world to find the five hole to score his second of the night and give Owen Sound their first lead. Despite being outshot in the period 13-10, the Attack were the ones converting their chances. After Logan LeSage found Barret Kirwin streaking into the Erie slot, Kirwin put it through the legs of Jack Duff to find an open Kaleb Lawrence and an open net. Lawrence tapped it in for his 4th of the season and a 3-1 lead for Owen Sound after 40.
Andrew Perrott started out the third by getting the Attack out to their biggest lead of the night by beating Campbell on the backhand for his third of the season at 3:42 of the third. The three goal advantage wouldn’t stand for long, as Connor Lockhart got one back for the Otters at the five minute mark on the power play to make it 4-2. The teams would exchange special teams opportunities through the period, but it was Erie that would find the back of the net next. With less than four minutes to play, Brendan Sellan scored his 7th of the year on a rush to bring the Otters within one. Erie would pull Campbell for the extra attacker but despite some late scrambles in front of Guzda, Owen Sound hung on for their 3rd victory in a row and a massive two points in the Western Conference. The Otters outshot the Attack 35-25 on the MarkMcDade.com shots on goal clock but Guzda was strong in the crease.
The Hatten Home Building Centre Hardest Working Player of the Game was Kaleb Pearson. The Owen Sound Bug Juice North Stars Three Stars were Andrew Perrott, Connor Lockhart and Kaleb Pearson.
The Attack return home to the Bayshore on Wednesday night to meet the Hamilton Bulldogs. Tickets are available at the MacVicar & McComb Sutton Realty Attack Box Office and online.
