The logo of the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League
The Owen Sound Attack couldn’t score in London.
Austin Elliott made 23 saves for his second shutout of the season, as the Knights blanked the Attack 3-0 in Ontario Hockey League action Wednesday evening at Canada Life Place.
Landon Sim, Sam O’Reilly and Denver Barkey scored for the London (23-4), which extended its winning streak to 19 games. All of London’s goals came in the second period.
Carter George turned in another stellar performance for the Attack (7-15-2-3), which lost its third in a row.
George turned aside 45 of 48 shots that came his way – including the first 25 of the game, until the Knights finally broke through in the second.
Sim had the puck behind the Attack net and cut out front, backhanding a pass into the crease that caught the skate of an Owen Sound defenceman and deflected through George’s five-hole, just over the goal line.
It was Teddy Bear Toss night in London, and the Sim goal to give London a 1-0 lead seven minutes into the second sent thousands of stuffed animals flying onto the ice surface at Canada Life Place. More than 15,000 when all were cleaned up and counted – all in support of Salvation Army London.
After a lengthy delay, the game resumed and London added to its lead. Easton Cowan had the puck on the left board and placed a saucer pass to O’Reilly in front of the Attack net. The Knights forward quickly lifted the puck over George’s glove to make it 2-0 before the midway mark of the second.
The Knights thought they had a 3-0 lead shortly after. A 2-on-1 led by William Nichol up the right wing side ended in the back of the Attack net. But after a review the officials determined the play was offside.
London would break through for its third goal at 17:01 of the second period. Barkey had the puck on the left side on a Knights 2-on-1, and elected to shoot. George made a left pad save, but the rebound kick right back to Barkey, and he put it high and into the net to make it 3-0.
The Attack had a chance early in the third to get on the board. Antonio Tersigni was in on goal, and deked out Elliott, forcing the Knights goaltender to slide to his right. But Tersigni’s forehand-backhand move in tight, ended with a miss on what looked like a wide open net right on top of the crease.
There were a couple clashes in the game. Landen Hookey and Jared Woolley dropped the gloves in the first period. Hookey was given an instigator penalty on the play.
And then in the third, Cowan somehow avoided an instigator or unsportsmanlike conduct call on an engagement with Tristan Delisle. With the Knights already on a power play, Delisle knocked Oliver Bonk into the board in the corner, and an official behind the Attack goal raised his arm to call a penalty. Immediately, Cowan had his gloves off and was throwing punches at Delisle. If it was a fight, textbook instigator, as Cowan went after Delisle after the hit thrown on his teammate. But it wasn’t ruled a fight, both players were given misconduct penalties. And Delisle was tagged for boarding on the initial play on Bonk in the corner. Cowan avoided an unsportsmanlike conduct call after dropping his gloves and throwing punches at Delisle, somehow.
The decision sent the Knights to a 58 second 5-on-3 power play. But they couldn’t add to their lead.
Elliott made 23 saves in the win, while George stopped 45 taking the loss. London outshot Owen Sound 48-23 while going 0 for 4 on the power play; the Attack finished 0 for 2.
Next up for Owen Sound is a trip to Guelph Friday evening to take on the Storm (7-15-2-1). You can hear the game live on Kia of Owen Sound-Terry’s Trailer Service Bear Radio on 560 CFOS.
Saturday, the Attack return home to host the Soo Greyhounds at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre.