Attack Win Game One in OT !
Game one of the 2010-2011 Owen Sound Attack post season was played in Owen Sound Friday night. Our round one opponents, the London Knights.
To win the Ontario Hockey League Championship post season, you have to win 16 times. That’s a big task. The very good 1998-1999 Owen Sound Plater hockey club led by Captain Dan Snyder was able to win 9 playoff games before being eliminated by this London franchise who went on to win the OHL Western Conference, but lose to the Bellville Bulls in the league final. Our Attack have one in the books as do other OHL member clubs early in the post season. The race is on!
Attack 3 – Knights 2 in overtime!
NHL Anahiem Ducks teammates Bobby Ryan and Corry Perry are former Attack and Knights stars. Rumours have it that they have a bit of a bet on whose Alumni team will win this series.
Our Attack may have won the OHL Western Conference and the Knights may have finished 8th, but any Dale and Mark Hunter led hockey clubs will be competitors and behind the superb goaltending of Michael Houser, the Knights gave our Attack all they could handle in game one.
Jared Knight got things going for his Knights, scoring glove side on Attack starter Jordan Binnington, with London’s 1st shot on goal at 6:18. Seth Griffith assisted. The lone 1st period goal. The Attack outshot the Knights 9-7. Both goaltenders had made a couple of huge saves.
Our Attack came back to tie and take the lead in period two. Working a power play, Jesse Blacker and Matt Stanisz set up a chance for Robby Mignardi to tip a puck past Houser at 6:26.
Less than a minute later, Captain Garrett Wilson attacked and crashed the net slamming the puck by Houser at 7:12 with Liam Heelis and Robby Mignardi assisting.
London Captain Stephen Sanza is a quality player as expected. His main job this series will be to “look after” our Joey Hishon, but the overage Sanza can put the puck in the net. Stephen made a beauty tip on a shot by Seth Griffith at 10:58 and the game would be tied at two.
2-2 after two periods of play with the Attack outshooting the Knights 23-17.
Great goaltending at both ends in the third, but no scoring, and regulation time closes with the Attack outshooting the Knights 46-33. The Attack had pumped Houser with 23 shots.
With a late in the third period holding penalty to London’s Colin Martin, our Attack had a 58 second overtime PP. Nothing doing.
The Knights called a timeout at 1:50. The reasoning was thought to be to get Sanza to take the faceoff in the London zone against Joey Hishon. Hish tied things up and left puck out behind him. His right winger Andrew Fritsch snapped it up and fired it on net. Houser made the save, but a charging Garrett Wilson forced his way to the net and powered the winning goal by Houser at 1:55 of OT.
The Dickies Clothing Hardest Working Player of the Game was Andrew Shaw.
The Kelsey’s Neighbourhood Bar and Grill Attacker of the Game was Jesse Blacker.
The 3 Stars of the Game were:
1st Star – Michael Houser with 49 saves.
2nd Star – Garrett Wilson with the overtime game winning goal.
3rd Star – Robby Mignardi.
Next up !
Game 2 – @ London Saturday March 26th, 7:00pm
Game 3 – Tuesday March 29th, 7:00pm
Game 4 – @ London Thursday March 31st, 7:00pm
Game 5* – Saturday April 2nd, 7:30pm
Game 6* – @ London Sunday April 3rd, 4:00pm
Game 7* – Tuesday, April 5th, 7:00 pm
Don’t miss any of them !
Games in London you can listen to on BearRadio AM 560 or watch on Rogers Cable.
Season ticket holders are reminded that your seat is held for every playoff game until 1:00 p.m. the day BEFORE a scheduled playoff game.
If you have not paid for your seat by this deadline, the seats will be released for sale to the general public.
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.
