Knights Win A Thriller By Shoot-out !
Knights win the shootout !
Final score London 6 – Owen Sound 5 SO. Final shots on net 41-32 Attack. The Attack were 2 for 5 on the PP. The Knights, 2 for 6.
For the third time this regular season, our Attack and the London Knights needed overtime to decide their game. The Knights have won all three. This time with their top scorer Seth Griffith the only skater to score in the shootout period.
The Knights opened the scoring at 3:18 of the first period when Brett Welychka sprung Chris Tierney who split the Attack defence and wired his 7th of the season over the catching glove of Attack netminder Scott Stajcer. The goal was the first shot on net for the Knights and the first stoppage in play for the game. Our Attack were able to come back and tie the game on a power play when Daniel Catenacci fed Kyle Hope at the right defence. Kyle put the puck on the London net where goaltender Tyson Teichmann was unable to control the rebound and Mike Halmo was there to snap his 29th at 12:35. 1-1 after one period of play.
The Knights worked a power play to a 2-1 lead at 6:13 of the second. With a play that started with a missed off-side, Austin Watson – acquired from Peterborough – ran into Jay Gilbert at the left side of the Attack net and then from the blue ice, tipped in a shot by Vladislav Namestnikov for his 17th of the season.
Our Attack roared back with three consecutive goals. The first was a PP marker by Kyle Hope. Kyle simply put the puck at the net once again. This time Mike Halmo screened Teichmann for Kyle’s 4th goal of the season at 8:27. Cameron Brace and Daniel Catenacci assisted. Brendan Childerley gives his team all he has every shift. Hard work creates chances. Brendan was able to bank a backhand off the backside of Teidhmann from behind the goal line for his 6th of the season at 9:21. The Attack led for the first time in the game. Devon Rymarchuk and Kurtis Gabriel assisted. Joseph Blandisi then popped in his 15th of his rookie season after a goal mouth scramble right side. Zach Nastasiuk and Keevin Cutting assisted at 12:15.
The 4-2 Attack lead was cancelled with two quick London goals 32 seconds apart to close out the period. Just what our Attack did not need. Greg McKegg jammed a PP goal between Scott Stajcer’s left foot and the goal post at 18:11 for his 20th of the season and then Scott was unable to control a wrist shot from in close by Josh Anderson and the puck dribbled and spun so ever slowly behind him and just over the goal line at 18:43. 4-4 after two periods of play.
Late in the period goals hurt. Especially two. What can our Attack do to turn the momentum back their way. How about chase goaltender Teichmann from the London net just 51 seconds into the third? Cameron Brace worked his hands loose from a London defender behind the Knight’s net and fed Mike Halmo, also behind the net left side. Mike used his strength to get a backhand pass out front to Daniel Catenacci who banged in his 21st at 0:51. Jake Patterson replaced Teichmann in the London net.
Regulation time was running out when the Knight’s charged up the ice four abreast. Seth Griffith carried the puck up ice and failed to reach the centre red line before dumping the puck deep in the Attack right corner. No call. Patterson was pulled for the extra skater. The Knight forwards raced into the Attack endzone and with numbers, over powered the Attack defender to collect Griffith’s dump in left side. Greg McKegg fed Jarred Tinordi coming in from the left defence. Jarred slapped his 1st of the season by Stajcer and off to overtime things went.
There were some good chances in OT, but neither team could score. The game was decided by shootout. The 6th shooter, Seth Griffith, was the only skater to score. 6-5 London SO.
The 3 Stars of the Game were:
1st Star – Daniel Catenacci
2nd Star – Chris Tierney
3rd Star – Seth Griffith
The Dickie’s Clothing Hardest Working Attacker of the Game was Devon Rymarchuk.
The Kelsey’s Neighbourhood Bar and Grill Attacker of the Game was Kyle Hope.
Honourable mention must go to Jay Gilbert. He must have been the MVP of the game. Jay was a wall of defence out there.
Some good fun was had by fans in Sections F and G. Each time Dave Middleton – the game night promotions guy – sat down in the aisle between the two sections while he waited to do his next promotion, the Attack scored. It got to the point where fans would not let him leave. :>)
Nothing is easy in the OHL Midwest. For our Attack this latest stretch, it is Plymouth, London, London and next in Kitchener Friday night. Game time is 7:30 p.m. and can be heard on Grey Motors BearRadio AM560 starting at 7:15 p.m.
Saturday night the boys host the Guelph Storm. Game time at the J.D. McArthur Arena is 7:30 p.m.
Then Sunday, January 22nd, one of the contending teams from the OHL Eastern Conference, the Ottawa 67’s, make their only regular season visit to Owen Sound. Game time is 2:00 p.m.
Don’t miss them !
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.
