Szypula plays OT hero as Attack down Rangers

For the 2nd time in as many games, the Owen Sound Attack found themselves in an overtime contest.

This time though, they were on the right side of the final score.

An Ethan Szypula goal with 1:26 gone in the extra frame handed the Attack a 4-3 victory over the Kitchener Rangers,  their first win of the 2017-18 Ontario Hockey League season.

Also chipping in with goals on Friday night were Zachary Roberts, Sean Durzi, and Jonah Gadjovich, as Owen Sound held on after watching a 3-1 lead disappear in the 3rd period.

The Attack were on their heels for most the opening frame, surrendering four powerplay chances to the Blueshirts, including an extended five on three opportunity.

But a sterling 15 save performance by Zach Bowman in the opening frame helped the Bayshore Boys escape the period unscathed, and a brilliant move by Nick Suzuki just before the buzzer forced Kyle Gentles to trip the Vegas Golden Knights prospect up and give Owen Sound a Baywest Nissan Powerplay to start the middle stanza.

The Attack were unable to convert on their powerplay to start the 2nd period though, and shortly after play was back at five on five, Adam Mascherin was able to put the Rangers ahead 1-0, converting on a backdoor pass to score.

That one goal lead only lasted 24 seconds though, as Zachary Roberts wasted no time in tying things up by wiring a snapshot past Kitchener’s Luke Richardson at the 3:10 mark of the period to get the Attack on the board. Assists on the play went to Chase Campbell and Matthew Struthers, who helped create the Roberts’ goal by aggressively forechecking on the sidewall.

The penalty woes continued for the Attack soon after Roberts’ goal though, and another three straight Kitchener powerplays put the Attack on their heels once again.

Just like the first though, Owen Sound was up to the task and was able to prevent the Rangers from capitalizing on a man advantage.

Kitchener wasn’t about to do the same to the Attack, however.

With Logan Stanley in the box for roughing, Attack forward Alan Lyszczarczyk expertly entered the Kitchener zone before deflty feeding Kevin Hancock the puck. Hancock then slid the puck over to Sean Durzi who made no mistake on his first goal of the season, ripping a high shot into the Kitchener net to make it 2-1 for the Attack.

That one goal advantage for the visitors carried over into the game’s final frame, and things would stay at 2-1 until the Attack’s top line went to work near the eight minute mark of the frame.

After working the Rangers over down low, the Attack eventually got the puck back to Hancock near the top of the faceoff dot before the Attack forward launched a puck on net. Positioned in his office, Jonah Gadjovich jumped on the rebound that came off the pad of Luke Richardson, and the Vancouver Canucks prospect made no mistake, sliding it five-hole to make it a 3-1 Attack lead.

Kitchener came back quickly though, and a pair of goals by Logan Stanley and Joseph Gareffa turned what was a two goal Owen Sound lead into a 3-3 tie with just about five minutes remaining in regulation.

That three goal stalemate forced OT, and it was 1:26 into the extra frame that Szypula pounced on the rebound of a Maksim Sushko shot before shoving it underneath the Kitchener netminder to end the game. Captain Jacob Friend also assisted on the game winning play.

Szypula was named the Mac Taylor Corporation 1st Star of the Game for his game winning effort, while Attack rearguard Sean Durzi was named 2nd star of the game. Kitchener defender Logan Stanley rounded out the 3 stars of the game on the night.

In goal, Zach Bowman turned aside 33 of 36 shots to pick up his 1st win in an Attack uniform as the Mark McDade Chestnut Park Shots on Goal finished at 40-36 in favour of the Attack.

Owen Sound will now return to the Bayshore to play host to the Mississauga Steelheads in a 7:30pm tilt on Saturday, Sept. 30.

Tickets for Saturday’s game, and all remaining 2017-18 Attack Home Games, are available at the MacVicar & McComb ReMax Attack Box Office, online at www.attackhockey.com, or by calling 519-371-7452.

This season of Attack Hockey is brought to you by Lerner’s Personal Injury Lawyers and Bertrand & Muzzell Paralegal Services.