After a more than three year wait for an Ontario Hockey League playoff game at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre, the Owen Sound Attack didn’t disappoint.
Julian Fantino scored just over six minutes into the third period to break a 1-1 deadlock, lifting the Attack to a 2-1 win over the Flint Firebirds in Game 3 of the OHL Western Conference quarter-final Monday night in Owen Sound.
The Attack now the lead series 2-1.
It was the first OHL playoff game at the Bayshore since March 27, 2019. The pandemic wiped out the end of the 2019-20 campaign and all of the 2020-21 season.
Cedrick Guindon also scored for the Attack. Braeden Kressler had the lone goal for Flint.
The Attack fell behind 1-0 at 6:14 of the opening frame as Kressler curled out of the corner and wired a wrist shot past Nick Chenard.
Guindon found the equalizer on the power play 59 seconds into the second period, streaking in off the right wing on the breakaway then beating Luke Cavallin with a low-shot in tight on the forehand.
Fantino’s big moment came 6:18 into the third period. Moments after Cavallin stopped him once, Fantino smacked his stick on the ice furiously in the high slot and received a pass on the tape from Deni Goure. Fantino then ripped a wrist shot past Cavallin, scoring his third goal in the past two games to put the Attack in front 2-1.
They held out the rest of the way to preserve the one-goal win.
Chenard made 38 saves in the win, while Cavallin stopped 36 taking the loss. Flint outshot Owen Sound 39-38 while going 0 for 5 on the power play; the Attack finished 1 for 5.
Wednesday night at 7 p.m., the Attack host the Firebirds at the Bayshore in Game 4.
The series shifts back to Flint for Game 5 on Sunday, May 1 at 4 p.m. That game will be carried live on 560 CFOS with Terry’s Trailer Service-Kia of Owen Sound Bearadio.