Attack Shoot Down Spitfires
A quote by a fan while walking to their car after the game. “Now that was a hockey game”.
The defending champion Windsor Spitfires flew into Owen Sound Saturday night to face our Attack for the first of four times this regular season. And fly they did. This was one of the fastest paced games in Owen Sound this season to the delight of 2982 fans in attendance.
The Attack were assessed four minor penalties in period one. With their first chance, Windsor’s Tom Kuhnhackl beat Attack netminder Jordan Binnington with his 12th goal of the season from the blue ice at 2:40. 1-0 Spits after one period of play. The Attack outshot the Spitfires 16-10.
Just 11 seconds into period two, it was 2-0 Windsor after Stephen Johnston scored his 5th of the season. That always trouble, early in the period goal, that should have had our Attack back on their heels.
In conversation earlier in the day, Attack Head Coach Mark Reeds had mentioned that he would like to see his hockey club get back to sharing the scoring load like they were when they had that 9 game winning streak going. Rookie Cameron Brace with help from fellow rookie Kurtis Gabriel did just that. Simply good hustle by the good looking young center Smith. His 4th of the season at 6:28 of the second.
Kuhnhackl returned the favour with his second of the game at 13:04 completing a 3 on 2 with Alexander Khokhlachev and Zack MacQueen and it was 3-1 Windsor.
Each team scored one power play goal. Owen Sound’s came off the stick of Joey Hishon at 17:29. Garrett Wilson fed Joey from the left corner for the big one-timer. His 12th of the season. Matt Petgrave was also in on the play.
1:25 later it was a tie game. Joey won the faceoff and it was Andrew Fritsch’s quick release for his 5th of the season at 18:54. Windsor defenceman Michael MacIntyre was assessed a four minute high sticking penalty at 19:33. Would this be the turning point of the game? 3-3 after two.
The Spits were able to kill the penalty to MacIntyre, but shortly after they did, rookie Gemel Smith did some great work along the left wall in his own end, broke down the left side and wristed a beauty by Windsor goaltender Troy Passingham. The game winner came at 4:42. His 3rd of the season.
The Spitfires sure gave Jordan Binnington and Attack fans all they could handle as the game wore down, but Jordan closed the door for the Attack’s 3rd consecutive win.
Final score Owen Sound 4 – Windsor 3. Final shots on net were 44-39 Owen Sound. The Attack improve their Midwest leading record to 14-4-0-1 while the Spitfires drop to 11-9-0-1.
The 3 Stars of the Game were:
1st Star – Tom Kuhnhackl with 2 goals.
2nd Star – Gemel Smith with the game winner.
3rd Star – Jordan Binnington with a 36 save performance.
The Dickie’s Clothing Hardest Working Attacker of the Game was Keevin Cutting.
The Kelsey’s Neighbourhood Bar and Grill Attacker of the Game was Garrett Wilson.
The Belleville Bulls make their only regular season visit to Owen Sound Wednesday, November 17th. Game time at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre, J.D. McArthur Arena, is 7:00 p.m.
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.
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