Attack Return to Bayshore in Close Tilt Against Knights
It’s been 575 days since the Owen Sound Attack last played a regular season game in the Bayshore Community Centre, and Saturday nights contest against the visiting London Knight was special. Unfortunately, the bounces were not in Owen Sounds favour as they fall by a 4-3 score.
It was a dream start for the Attack, as they opened the scoring just 30 seconds after opening puck drop. It was veteran forward Ethan Burroughs who danced into the Knights zone, and ripped a quick wrist shot through goalie Brett Brochu. The lead was short lived as just over three minutes came off the clock before Knights captain Luke Evangelista knocked a bouncing puck past Mack Guzda to even the game. A steady flow of play followed the early goals, but it was the visitors who once again knocked a bouncing puck into the back of the net. Owen Sound would find themselves with a great chance to event he score with a power play, but a post whistle scuffle resulted in a penalty call and sent the action to 4-on-4. A second penalty against the Attack sent them to a 5-on-3 penalty kill late in the opening 20 minutes, but some strong team defence and goaltending helped kill it off, resulting in a 2-1 Knights lead after the first period.
The middle frame began very similar to the start of the game, as Deni Goure found himself alone in the right face-off circle on a power play. The veteran made no mistake when a rebound bounced out to him, as he blasted home his first of the year. The game again found a nice flow after Owen Sound evened the score. It was halfway through the period when the Knights found themselves with another power play advantage, and this time they made no mistake, as it was again the captain Evangelista, who wired a wrist shot through traffic beating Guzda to regain the Knights lead. It looked like London was begin to run down hill with the 3-2 lead, but a quick transition by Logan LeSage resulted in him having a 2-on-1 with rookie Thomas Chafe. It was Chafe who went upstairs after receiving the feed from LeSage, tying the game for the third time in the evening.
It looked like a repeat of Friday night to begin the final 20 minutes of action, as London came out fast and pushed the play. Owen Sound held strong and even began to find their legs, pressing back against the Knights forecheck. It was a neutral zone turnover however that cost the Attack in this game, as the visitors countered with numbers, resulting in Abakar Kazbekov giving London a 4-3 lead with under five minutes to play. The Attack would press hard in the final minute but could not solve Brochu, falling short for the second night in a row against the Knights.
Owen Sound returns to action Wednesday night as they welcome the Guelph Storm to the Bayshore for the teams first meeting of the season. Fans are reminded that capacity is back to 100% and tickets can be purchased online, or at the McVicar and McComb Sutton Reality Bow Office.
