Guindon Scores 4 to Lead Attack Over Storm
Very few players make scoring goal look easy in hockey. Getting two in a single game is impressive. Three amazing, but on Friday night Attack rookie Cedrick Guindon netted all four of his teams goals to lead Owen Sound to a big 4-3 overtime win over the Guelph Storm.
With how the final 20 minutes and change played out, one would have thought that the teams had a hard back and forth battle all night. It was quite the opposite as the first 40 minutes of the game was very low event, as the teams seemed nervous to let anything open up.
As the buzzer sounded to end the second period it was Attack forward Stepan Machacek, who stepped out of the box just seconds before, delivered a borderline high hit to Storm defensemen Michael Buchinger. A scrum would ensure, but it was the Storm who had the extra player pulled as the Attack started the third period on a 5-on-3.
It took Guindon just 28 seconds into the period, to rip a laser beam past Storm goalie Owen Bennett, tying the game 2-2. The goal represented just the 24th shot combined between the teams, as it was a rough night for both goaltenders save percentages.
In the Attack net Nick Chenard provided some solid saves throughout the first 40 minutes, keeping the game close and not letting the Storm get any momentum. It was late in the second period when the Attack had a scare, as Ryan McGuire went crashing into Chenard on a net drive rush, after beating the Attack goalie under his blocker arm. The goal gave the Storm the 2-1 lead, after Matthew Potrais opened the scoring late in the first period.
It looked the Storm had the game in hand, when Matthew Papais deposited a rebound opportunity with under three minutes left on the clock.
Desperate, Owen Sound elected to pull Chenard with under a minute left in the game, as they pressed to even the game. Once again, it was Guindon, this time with a seeing eye shot from the high slot that eluded Bennett, completing the young centre’s first career hat-trick, and sending the game to overtime.
The extra frame was short and sweet, as Guindon started the play by winning the face-off. He would then circle back just inside his own blue-line, where he collected the pass from Sam Sedley. As he rushed up ice, Guindon cut through the middle, criss-crossing with Servac Petrovsky. The 17-year old sent a wrist shot toward the Storm net, but it deflected off a defenders stick and flutter past Bennett, who could not pick the puck up as Petrovsky provided a perfect fly by screen.
It was the Attack’s fourth straight win, as they continue to try and separate themselves from the bottom four teams in the conference. Owen Sound will conclude weekend action Saturday night against the Saginaw Spirit, the second meeting of the season between the teams. Fans can purchase tickets online or by contacting the MacVicar and McComb Sutton Realty Box Office.