Majors Take 3 – 2 Series Lead

Game 5 of the Ontario Hockey League Rogers Championship Series for the J. Ross Robertson Cup  featuring our Owen Sound Attack and the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors, was played at the Hershey Center in Mississauga Tuesday night with the series tied at two.

After the overtime game in Owen Sound Sunday afternoon, one would have thought that with the OHL title on the line, things would be very tight.  The high scoring games would be history.  Not !  A dreadful first period had our Attack falling behind 4-0 in the first 15 minutes.  What a mess.

The Majors opened the scoring when Chicago Black Hawk prospect Rob Flick, beat Attack netminder Michael Zador after some sloppy defencesive play.  Rob’s 8th of the post season.  Time of the goal was 6:57.

A couple of minutes later, with the Majors on a power play, it was 2-0 when Justin Shugg fired a nice looking wrist shot at 9:01 for his 9th of the post season.  Attack Coach Mark Reeds replaced Michael Zador with Scott Stajcer.

Joey Hishon was given a holding penalty at 10:29.  The Mississauga top line led by Captain Casey Cizikas matches the Hishon line every time each are on the ice.  The OHL has a promotion where, in order to buy some commercial time, “snow boys”, will come on the ice around mid-period to clean the snow away from each team’s net and player bench.   The snow boys can’t go on the ice if there is a special team – PP –  chance called on a stoppage of play, or if there is less than 5 minutes in the period.  Joey goes off for holding, the snow boys come on the ice and the Cizikas line rests !  The  BearRadio crew mention. “only in Owen Sound do they follow the rules”.  Maxim Kitsyn caught Scott Stajcer slow getting back to his net with his 9th of the post season, on the PP, at 12:25.

The Majors took what should have been an unsurmountable 4-0 lead when Devante Smith-Pelly finished a 2-on-1 with his 12th of the post season at 15:46.  Four goals in 15 minutes and with the last three, the Majors were scoring a goal approximately every three minutes of play.

At 17:06, Jarrod Maidens slowed down the Mississauga attack.  Jarrod deflected a Jesse Blacker shot from the point for his 4th of the post season and now his Attack could start working at chasing down the Majors.

Keevin Cutting made it 4-2 at 19:08.  Garrett Wilson gave Keevin the puck and Keevin went high on Mississauga goaltender JP Anderson.  4-2 after one period of play

No scoring in period two.

Casey Cizikas took a slashing penalty at the end of the second period.  20:00. At 1:19 of the third our Attack were within one.  Robby Mignardi scored his league leading 15th of the post season, a 10 game point scoring streak and a 5 game goal scoring streak, when he “squirreled” a puck through Anderson.  Goal scorers are goal scorers.  They have the gift.  4-3.

The Majors came on hard after Robbie’s goal.  Our Attack were on their heels for around 10 minutes and the confusion continued.  On a breakaway, Justin Shugg backhanded his 2nd of the game at 11:46.  Liam Heelis took an interference penalty in front of his own net at 14:03 and Devante Smith-Pelly scored at 14:49.  DSM finished the night with his 3rd of the game and 14th of the post season at 16:17.  Another PP goal.  One of their 4 with 6 chances.  During an altercation at 17:49, one of the penalties called, was a disturbing 5 minute Match to Attack center Andrew Shaw.

Final score Mississauga 7 – Owen Sound 3.  Final shots on net 35-30 Mississauga.  The Majors were 4 for 6 on the PP.  Our Attack 1 for 3.
 
The 3 Stars of the Game were:
1st Star – Devante Smith-Pelly
2nd Star – Justin Shugg
3rd Star – Jesse Blacker

Game 1 – Tuesday May 3rd, Mississauga 5 – Owen Sound 2 EN.
Game 2 – Thursday May 5 Mississauga 6 – Owen Sound 2 EN.
Game 3 – Friday May 6 Owen Sound 6 – Mississauga 5 OT.
Game 4 – Sunday May 8 Owen Sound 2 – Mississauga 1 OT
Game 5 – Tuesday May 10 Mississauga 7 – Owen Sound 3
Game 6 – Thursday May 12 at 7:00 pm at Owen Sound
Game 7 – Sunday May 15 at 2:00 pm at Mississauga*
 *if necessary

Season ticket holders are reminded that your seat for the final home game in Owen Sound this season will be held until 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 11th.  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.

Phone orders at 371-7452 or toll free 1-866-5ATTACK.