That was a tough one for the Attack.
Sean McGurn scored a hat trick and Brett Brochu made 25 saves for his first career Ontario Hockey League playoff shutout, as the London Knights whacked the Owen Sound Attack 7-0 in Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinal Friday night at Budweiser Gardens.
The Knights lead the best-of-seven 1-0.
Max McCue also scored a pair, while Jacob Julien and Ryan Humphrey added singles for the Knights.
Julien open the scoring 5:15 into the first period, scoring his first OHL playoff goal on a jam play at the side of the goal that somehow found its way between Corbin Votary’s left skate and the post. 1-0 London.
That’s how things stood after the opening 20 minutes – then the Knights seized control with a three goal second period.
McCue notched a pair – his second coming on a penalty shot to make it 3-0 London just prior to the midway mark of the second.
McGurn’s first came at 14:21 of the second to make it 4-0.
Things also started to get chippy between the two familiar Midwest Division opponents in the second period.
A fight broke out between Attack captain Colby Barlow and Knights forward Landon Sim.
Two minutes later, Kaleb Lawrence was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct after hauling Julien to the ice and throwing punches towards the head of the Knights forward.
The Knights added three more in the third. McGurn scored the first two, completing his hat trick at 9:46 on a deflection on the power play that found its way by Votary.
Humphrey scored the capper at 17:27.
Brochu made 25 saves in the win, while Votary stopped 35 taking the loss in his first OHL playoff start. London outshot Owen Sound 42-25 while going 1 for 6 on the power play; the Attack finished 0 for 4.
Game 2 in the series is set to go Sunday afternoon at Budweiser Gardens. It’s a 2 p.m., start. The pre-game show on Bearadio on 560 CFOS will get underway at 1:30 p.m.
FORWARDS RETURN
The Attack did welcome back captain Colby Barlow and forward Gavin Bryant to the lineup for Game 1. Barlow missed time near the end of the regular season, while Bryant missed the last 19 games. Barlow and Bryant were two of only three Attack skaters who finished with an even plus-minus in the 7-0 loss.
Defenceman Madden Steen did not suit up in Game 1. He missed his eighth straight game.