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Owen Sound Attack

Attack Fall in Nailbiter to Kitchener

March 11, 2016 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Owen Sound Attack News Release


It was your typical close battle between the Midwest Division rivals when the Owen Sound Attack and Kitchener Rangers met at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Friday Mar. 11.

For the 4th time in the 2015-16 season series, the teams would see their game decided by just one goal; but unfortunately for Attack fans it would be the Rangers who came out on top of a 3-2 overtime decision.

The loss would be softened by the extra point that comes through overtime, a point that helped the Attack maintain advantage over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the playoff race.

While the first period would be a scoreless draw that saw neither team generate much in the way of offence, the second period would begin with a bang for Owen Sound.

Just 30 seconds after the middle stanza kicked off, former Ranger Josh Sterk would drop the puck for Jaden Lindo who blasted a shot off of the iron.

The puck luck that saw Kitchener goalie Dawson Carty get bailed out by his posts would turn the other way soon after though.

A hard skating Bryson Cianfrone would cause a turnover deep in the Rangers' zone thanks to his fearless forechecking, and the overage forward would turn and quickly find rookie forward Nick Suzuki in the high slot. Suzuki would make no mistake, blasting a hard snapper home for his 18th of the year just 1:32 into the frame.

Suzuki's goal seemed to kickstart both teams though.

Just a few minutes later the Rangers would respond with Nick Magyar tucking home a rebound to make it a 1-1 game with 15:23 left to play before the 2nd intermission.

The Rangers would then score their 2nd straight to take the lead on a Gustaf Franzen goal after another hit post by the Attack would spring Kitchener on a rush the other way.

Despite the flurry of early goals in the 2nd, neither Owen Sound or Kitchener would find the back of the net for the remainder of the period and the Attack would head to the final frame looking to claw their way back in the final 20 minutes.

And Owen Sound came out to start the 3rd period determined to do just that.

The Attack would largely control the pace in the first few minutes of the final frame, and the game would have been tied up early on if it hadn't been for a pair of desperation pad saves by Kitchener's Carty.

But the pressure would pay off for Owen Sound, and the visitors would be rewarded by way of Petrus Palmu's 23rd goal of the season with 7:38 gone in the 3rd. Ethan Szypula would pick up the lone assist, forcing a turnover behind the Rangers' net before finding a wide open Palmu in the Kitchener slot where Owen Sound's leading scorer would make no mistake and make it a 2-2 game.

The remainder of the 3rd period would be largely played in the Rangers' end, but with no luck for the Attack as the teams would need more than 60 minutes of play to decide the winner.

Friday night's game would mark the 4th time the teams would need the extra frame to decide the winner on the year, and unfortunately for the Attack, this one would go in favour of Kitchener.

With 2:38 left in overtime, Rangers' captain Ryan MacInnis would use a snapshot to beat Attack netminder Daniel Dekoning, and send the home team off with a 3-2 victory.

Despite the loss the Owen Sound Attack would pick up an all valuable point in the overtime period to remain ahead of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in Western Conference Standings. Both teams entered the night with 70 points, tied for 6th place.

The single point gained by Owen Sound and a loss to the London Knights by the Hounds pushed the Attack one point ahead with four games remaining for both squads.

Attack netminder Daniel Dekoning turned aside 28 shots on the night as the Mark McDade Remax Shots on Goal finished at 31-29 for the Rangers.

Petrus Palmu was named the Mac Taylor Corporation 3rd Star of the Game for his efforts on the evening, while Kitchener's Ryan MacInnis and Dawson Carty were named 1st and 2nd stars respectively.

Owen Sound will now return to the Bayshore and play host to the Windsor Spitfires on Saturday, Mar. 12 in a 7:30 pm game.

Tickets for Saturday's tilt are limited and can be purchased at the DJ's Furniture Attack Box Office.

Fans are reminded that Saturday is their final chance to place a bid on the Caframo Attack Warmup Jersey of their choice in the silent auction that will take place in the south concourse. The auction, which began on Wednesday night, will re-open when doors open at 6:30pm and close at the beginning of the 3rd period.

Check out the Owen Sound Attack Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 11, 2016


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