This one wasn’t pretty.
Eric Frossard, Parker Snelgrove and Wil McFadden scored in the first, as the Guelph Storm jumped out to a 3-0 lead en route to an 8-1 win over the Owen Sound Attack in Ontario Hockey League action Friday night at Sleeman Centre.
McFadden’s goal came on a 2-on-1 in the final moments of the first. He broke up ice and elected to shoot and beat Matthew Koprowski with just 1.7 seconds on the clock, capping a dream first period for the Storm.
Carter Stevens scored twice. Josh Avery, Ethan Miedema and Jaako Wycisk also had goals for Guelph (27-29-2-3), which ended a four-game losing streak.
Noah Nelson had the lone goal for the Attack (23-30-3-5). Owen Sound had its five-game point streak end.
Nelson’s goal at 13:22 of the second period seemed to spark the Attack and brought them, momentarily, back in the hockey game. Masen Wray broke up the left wing and fired on a shot on Zach Jovanovski, and the rebound kicked out to the Attack overage forward. Nelson quickly shot off the post and past Jovanovski to cut the Storm lead to 3-1.
It was nearly 3-2 on the very next shift. John Banks found a lane to the net and rang a wrist shot off the post…then the puck bounced back towards the Storm net and looked to be heading in when Jovanovski wildly swung his glove back and somehow got to the puck to keep Guelph’s two goal advantage.
Bang, bang, bang. All the Attack momentum was quashed with three Guelph goals in 1:46 near the end of the second period. First Avery, then Wycisk, then Stevens. It was 6-1 Guelph after two.
Trenten Bennett entered the game for the Attack in the third.
Miedema scored just 36 seconds into the final frame to make it 7-1. And Stevens would add his second at 5:49.
Guelph officially clinched an OHL playoff berth with the win, and firmed their grip on sixth in the Western Conference – moving five points up on the seventh-place Attack.
Jovanovski made 30 saves in the win, while Koprowski stopped 16 taking the loss. Guelph outshot Owen Sound 33-31 while going 0 for 2 on the power play; the Attack finished 0 for 2.
Next up for the Attack is a home game Saturday against Sarnia Sting at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre. It’s a 7 p.m start.
CLINCHING SCENARIO STILL IN PLAY SATURDAY
Despite the lopsided loss in Guelph Friday, the Attack can still clinch an OHL playoff berth as early as Saturday night. If they secure a regulation win on home ice over Sarnia, and the Erie Otters lose in regulation to the London Knights…the Attack will officially be headed to the postseason.
Owen Sound had some help on the out of town scoreboard Friday night. The eight-place Saginaw Spirit lost 5-1 to Brantford Bulldogs. Owen Sound remains one point up on Saginaw, with a game in hand.
Sarnia fell 3-1 to Flint Firebirds, and the 10th place Erie Otters were whacked 10-2 by London Knights.
POINT STREAK ENDS
Attack forward Harry Nansi’s 11-game point streak came to an end Friday night in Guelph. He had 13 points in 11 games, and goals in three of four coming into it.