Attack Defeat Whalers 5 – 4 !
Your Owen Sound Attack face the best the Ontario Hockey League Western Conference can throw at them this week. A game with the Plymouth Whalers and two with the London Knights. Six available points. Our Attack have two in the bag after defeating the charging Whalers at the J.D. McArthur Arena Wednesday night
Final score Owen Sound 5 – Plymouth 4. Final shots on net 36-31 Attack. The Attack were 2 for 5 on the PP. The Whalers 2 for 7.
Michael Halmo is the Captain of the Attack. What a leader this young man is. He has earned his “room” on the ice and can and will make the most of any situation. You want to defeat our Attack, Michael is one of the players you will have to shut down. The Whalers did do all they could, but Michael just over powers people when needed. It was a 4-2 Attack hockey game in the third period. The Whalers putting pressure on the Attack. Michael came up with the puck and looked at a 1 on 3 situation. No problem. Just put your head down and charge right into things. Michael did and the result was #28’s, 28th goal of the season at 13:18 which turned out to be the game winner. His point scoring streak extended to 15. Whaler defenders, including one time Attack 1st round pick, defenceman Curtis Crombeen, just shook their heads in appreciation.
Daniel Zweep’s hard work down low created a chance for Brendan Childerley to open the scoring at 6:42 of the first. Zach Nastasiuk assisted. Brendan’s 5th of the season. It was clear that the Whalers were looking to hit/wear down certain veteran Attack players, but our Attack left the period outshooting the Whalers 12-8 and leading 1-0. Many fans expected the Whalers to stop “playing” with the puck and shooting more in the second.
The Attack took a 2-0 lead at 6:09 of the second. Daniel Zweep was again a big part of the goal after working the right corner for some time before the puck was moved back to the right point to Kyle Hope. Hope’s rebound was snapped up by Zach Nastasiuk, backhanding his 7th of the 6:09.
The Whalers got on the board at 12:06. The teams playing 4-on-4 when Alex Aleardi backhanded his 25th of the season behind Attack netminder Jordan Binnington. 2-1 after two periods of play with the Attack then outshooting the Whalers 27-17. The Whalers left the ice showing total discuss with their losing to our Attack. Would they “bring it” in the third?
Our Attack are the reigning OHL Champs. Maybe they can only manage to dress 17 skaters for this game, but there are a dozen players from that Championship team on this roster. Three of those boys were in on the 3-1 Attack goal. Jay Gilbert fired a shot from the right point. There was a rebound scramble. Mike Halmo came up with the puck, but his shot hit the right post. Gemel Smith was there to tap it in for a PP marker at 6:08.
Working the PP again, rookie Joseph Blandisi carried the puck out of the left corner and into that sometimes dangerous front of the net area. He has no fear and backhanded his 14th of the season at 9:47.
Cody Payne snapped a nice shot from the right side for his 4th of the season at 10:09 making it a 4-2 game, but then came our Captain. Mike’s game winner at 13:18.
The 5-4 score was not really indicative of how the game went. The Whalers scored a couple of PP goals late, but Attack fans really were not worried. Our boys were “on” this night. Rickard Rakell tapped in his 20th at 15:38 and with Whaler goaltender Matt Mahalak pulled for the extra skater, Mitchell Heard notched his 23rd with 4 seconds left in regulation time.
The 3 Stars of the Game were: 1 and 2 go to our overage Captain and our underage 1st round draft pick. Nice !
1st Star – Mike Halmo with the game winning goal and an assist.
2nd Star – Zach Nastasiuk with a goal, 2 assists and a +3.
3rd Star – Richard Rakell with a goal, an assist and a -2.
The Dickie’s Clothing Hardest Working Attacker of the Game was Daniel Catenacci.
The Kelsey’s Neighbourhood Bar and Grill Attacker of the Game was Brendan Childerley.
Our Attack now face the Western Conference leading London Knights in a back-to-back matchup this weekend. Friday we are in London with a game start time of 7:30 p.m. Saturday we are host to the Knights. Game time at the J.D. McArthur Arena is 7:30 p.m.
Don’t miss it!
The Attack box office is open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday game days 10:00 a.m. through to the end of the second intermission. Wednesday games 8:30 a.m. through to the end of the second intermission.
Phone orders at 371-7452 or toll free 1-866-5ATTACK.
Internet orders at www.attackhockey.com.
