Attack drop overtime thriller to Sting

The Owen Sound Attack hosted the Sarnia Sting in an overtime thriller on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

A 4-3 final, the Attack found themselves on the wrong side of the score despite the return of Bryson Cianfrone to the lineup and a 39 save performance by Michael McNiven.

Neither side was able to generate anything in terms of scoring in the opening 20 minutes of play and the teams headed to the intermission deadlocked at zeros.

Those zeros were on the board largely due to the play of Attack netminder Michael McNiven, who made a handful of ten-bell saves on Sarnia’s nine first period shots.

Between McNiven’s timely stops and a pair of late period penalties to the Sting, Owen Sound had the momentum as the 2nd period began.

However the momentum wouldn’t be enough to capitalize on an extended Baywest Nissan Powerplay that carried over from the game’s opening 20 minutes.

But that didn’t stop the Attack from pushing to open the scoring.

After having a goal waived off with 4:36 gone in the period, the Attack could smell blood in the water and made sure to strike.

Jonah Gadjovich would pick up his 5th of the season at 6:11 of the 2nd, burying a five hole snipe after walking off the half wall. Zach Roberts was awarded the lone assist on the play, giving him the 2nd point of his young OHL career.

It would be almost 10 minutes until the game’s next goal, and when it did come it would be the game-tying marker for the Sting.

With 6:10 left in the middle stanza, Troy Lajeunesse one timed a pass between the wickets of McNiven and Sarnia was on the board.

Owen Sound wouldn’t waste much time in restoring their one goal lead though.

Just 18 seconds later, Ethan Szypula pounced on a loose puck in the Sting crease and banged home his 8th of the year with assists going to Damir Sharipzyanov and Josh Sterk.

The ping pong match wouldn’t end with Szypula’s goal however.

With the Attack on a Paul Davis Systems Penalty Kill, Pavel Zacha connected on a one-time pass from Josh Jacobs, scoring Sarnia’s 2nd goal of the game at the 17:28 mark.

Zacha’s goal would be the last of the period, and the teams would head to the 3rd looking for the game winning tally.

Sarnia made headway when it came to looking for the game winner, thanks to a Patrick White snapshot just 2:08 into the final period of play.

The Sting goal wouldn’t go unanswered though, and this time it was Jaden Lindo’s turn to join the party.

Just before the five minute mark of the period, Lindo made no mistake on a seeing-eye pass from Bryson Cianfrone. The goal, Lindo’s 8th of the year, came on a short Baywest Nissan Powerplay and also saw an assist go to Sean Durzi.

Lindo’s goal would be the final marker of regulation, as the teams would need overtime to solve things.

And it would be a weird one that ended it.

With just over one minute to play in the extra frame, Sarnia Sting forward Nikita Korostelev fanned on a shot from in close and fooled McNiven for the game winner.

The shot was Sarnia’s 43rd on the night, as the Sting finished the game with a 43-27 advantage on the Mark McDade Remax Shot Clock.

With an assist in his return to the Attack lineup, Bryson Cianfrone was named the Hatten Home Hardware Building Centre Hardest Working Player of the Game.

McNiven’s 39 save performance earned him the honour of Mac Taylor Corporation 3 Star of the Game, while Sarnia’s Nikita Korostelev and Josh Jacobs earned 3rd and 1st stars respectively.

The Attack only have pne more game this week, and it is the first ever meeting between them and the Hamilton Bulldogs at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre.

Puck drop is set for Saturday, Nov, 7 at 7:30pm and tickets can be purchased at the DJ’s Furniture Attack Box Office, online at www.attackhockey.com, or by calling 519-371-7452.

This season of Attack Hockey is brought to you by Caframo.