Platzer plays OT hero as Attack beat Knights

The Owen Sound Attack and the London Knights met in the 2nd half of a home and home at the Bayshore on Saturday, Mar. 14, and like Friday night’s affair it was an extremely close game, and one that needed overtime to decide a winner.

And just like the first half of the home and home, the away team went home with a loss as the Attack felled the Knights 2-1 in overtime.

Kyle Platzer scored the game winner while Attack goalie Michael McNiven turned in an unbelievable 37 save performance.

A frantic pace to the first period brought a playoff-like feel to the Bayshore and the Attack responded to the life in the crowd.

After an extended period of time without a whistle, a relentless forecheck by Kyle Platzer, Zach Nastasiuk, and Erik Bradford resulted in a 1-0 lead for the Attack at the 12:32 mark of the frame.

Platzer and Bradford worked the Knights’ defence over below the goal line and allowed a loose puck to squeak out to a wide open Nastasiuk who made no mistake, beating London’s Michael Giugovaz to give Owen Sound the early lead.

The Attack continued to press the pace for the remainder of the frame, but despite the seemingly endless pressure, the teams went to the dressing room with Owen Sound up just 1-0.

The intensity only ramped up in the 2nd period as both teams came out flying in search of the game’s 2nd goal.

Owen Sound and London would trade chances throughout the frame but the middle stanza would prove to be a goaltending clinic on both sides.

Attack goalie Michael McNiven only faced seven shots in the period, but most of them were grade ‘A’ chances. London’s Giugovaz turned aside all 16 shots he faced, including a flurry at the end of the period.

Despite not being able to best the Knights’ netminder, Owen Sound would carry momentum into the 3rd period thanks to a late penalty to Josh Sterk.

The Attack wouldn’t capitalize on the powerplay to begin the frame, which would lead to a seesaw battle in the final 20 minutes.

That seesaw battle would eventually give way to a goal, this one coming from London with 1:20 left on the clock.

With the net empty, a goal mouth scramble saw a loose puck fall onto the stick of Matt Rupert who finally beat Michael McNiven on London’s 36th shot of the evening.

London’s goal would send the game to overtime, marking the 3rd time in 6 games the teams needed an extra frame to decide the winner.

And just 1:57 into that overtime period Kyle Platzer scored his 30th goal of the year with a laserbeam slapshot from just inside the blueline. Zach Nastasiuk picked up the lone assist on the game winner.

The shot was Owen Sound’s 36th of the game, and the Mark McDade Remax Shots on Goal finished at 38-36 for London.

Jonah Gadjovich was named the Ryobi Tools Hardest Working Player of the Game.

Michael McNiven’s 37 save performance earned him the distinction of Mac Taylor Corporation’s 1st Star of the game while his counterpart, Michael Giugovaz, was named 2nd star for his 34 save effort. Zach Nastasiuk picked up 3rd star honours thanks to his one goal, one assist game.

Owen Sound will conclude the 2014-2015 OHL Regular Season with three games this upcoming week.

First they will be home to the Plymouth Whalers on Wednesday, Mar. 18 at 7:00 pm before travelling to Guelph to take on the Storm on Friday night at 7:30 pm. They will then return back to the Bayshore to host the Sarnia Sting on Saturday, Mar. 21 also at 7:30 pm.

Tickets for both remaining home games can be purchased at the DJ’s Furniture Attack Box Office, online at www.attackhockey.com, or by calling 519-371-7452.

This season of Attack Hockey is brought to you by Caframo.