Attack Extend Winning Streak Despite Strong Effort by Ovsjannikov
Petrus Palmu would score the overtime winner at 2:51 of overtime stealing a hard fought victory from the Barrie Colts giving the Owen Sound Attack their 15th straight victory.
On another snowy Thursday night at the Molson Centre the Colts would kick off their fourth weekend in a row with 3 games in 3 nights, playing with a short bench dressing just 16 skaters due to injuries and illnesses.
David Ovsjannikov making his 27th start of the season would do all he could to hold off a powerful Attack squad.
A make up effort after a game originally scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 15 was postponed due to inclement weather, Barrie would look to put a halt to an Owen Sound team looking to continue their win streak. The Colts would need to slow down the trio of Nick Suzuki, Petrus Palmu, and Kevin Hancock leading the way offensively for the Attack if they were going to have a chance.
There would be no love lost between the two clubs, right from the first puck drop the teams would play a physical and heated affair. Playing a rematch of last Saturday night’s game, it would be the second meeting in six days against their cross-conference rival in the sixth and final meeting between the two clubs.
Barrie would get on the board first with a little puck luck. Jason Smith would throw a harmless looking shot wide, but a strange bounce off a stantion, ricocheted off Owen Sounds netminder Emanuel Vella and into the back of the net, his first as a Barrie Colt.
Midway through the opening frame during an Owen Sound 5 on 3 powerplay Colts goaltender Ovsjannikov would come up big making two beautiful glove saves, the first off a one timer by Kevin Hancock and then seconds later he would do the same to Petrus Palmu.
The potent Attack offense would continue coming on strong. With just under three minutes remaining, Markus Phillips coming down the left side would throw a cross crease pass to Aiden Dudas, directing one into the far corner passed Ovsjannikov to tie the game at one a piece.
The Attack would keep it coming early in the second period. Coming across the Barrie blue line as a three man unit, Cordell James would continue right where he left off last Saturday finishing off some nice passing firing a shot to the blocker side of Ovsjannkov.
Minutes later Jason Willms would intercept a pass at the Barrie blue line leading the rush down ice. Willms would pass off to Zachary Magwood and while having his stick hooked, losing the handle would slide one by Vella to knot the game up once again at 2, his 12th goal of the season.
Going into the third period with the game tied, would give the Colts as close an opportunity in the five games prior against the Attack to get a victory and avoid a season sweep.
Throughout much of the third period the two teams would play a tight checking game, trying their best to limit chances at either end.
Ovsjannikov would continue to shut down any chances by the Attack making a number of point blank chances to keep the game tied while the Colts were outshot 14-3 in the final frame carrying them into overtime.
In overtime though it would once again be the Owen Sound Attack coming out the victor. Three minutes into extra time Dudas would throw a pass up ice deflecting off a stick landing right on the blade of Palmu as he skated alone to beat Ovjannikov.
Ovsjannikov finished the night making 37 saves.
Barrie is next in action tomorrow night in Mississauga against the Steelheads. Puck drop is 7pm.
Next Colts home game is this Saturday as we welcome the Oshawa Generals to the Barrie Molson Centre. Puck drop is 7:30pm.
