courtesy Owen Sound Attack
It was a tough end to the Owen Sound Attack’s three-game eastern road trip.
Logan Morrison had three assists in his debut as the Ottawa 67’s cruised past the Owen Sound Attack 5-1 in Ontario Hockey League action Sunday afternoon at TD Place in the nation’s capital.
Thomas Sirman, Cameron Tolnai, Luca Pinelli, Jack Beck and Brady Stonehouse scored for the 67’s, who held the Attack to just 14 shots.
Colby Barlow had the lone goal for Owen Sound.
Morrison was acquired by the 67’s a day prior in a deal with the Hamilton Bulldogs, and the 2022 OHL Playoffs MVP had an immediate impact – factoring in on three of Ottawa’s five goals.
The 67’s opened the scoring at 11:25 of the first period. Sirman fired a shot from the left-point that found its way past Corbin Votary to make it 1-0.
Owen Sound managed just two shots in the first period. Thomas Chafe had the Attack’s best scoring chance, ringing a snap-shot off the post in the final minute.
Tolnai made it a 2-0 game just past the midway mark of the second period, taking a pass from Brad Gardiner in the offensive zone before ripping a perfectly placed wrist shot over Votary’s glove-hand and under the crossbar at 10:07.
Pinelli converted a breakaway just over five minutes later to make it 3-0.
The Attack would get one back with 2:58 to go in the second period on the power play.
Gavin Bryant had the puck down low and hit his linemate Barlow out front with a pass, which was quickly shot past Max Donoso to cut Ottawa’s lead to 3-1.
That was it though for the Attack offence.
Beck capitalized on a Sam Sedley turnover in the neutral zone at 8:42 of the third period and scored on a breakaway to make it 4-1.
Then Owen Sound had a chance to operate on the power play, including 21 seconds of 5-on-3 time, but couldn’t find the net.
Stonehouse notched his 20th of the season on the power play with just over three minutes to go in the game to cap it – 5-1 Ottawa.
Donoso made 13 saves in the win, while Votary stopped 19 taking the loss. The 67’s outshot the Attack 24-14 while going 1 for 4 on the power play; Owen Sound finished 1 for 3.
Ottawa (28-6-1-1) extended its point-streak to six games with the win. Owen Sound (18-14-3-1) missed out on winning back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 1-2.
The 67’s are now 22-0 this season when leading after two periods.
Next up for the Attack is back-to-back road games in Niagara and Erie on Wednesday and Thursday, capping off five straight games away from the Bayshore to start the new year.
Owen Sound’s next home game is Saturday, Jan. 14 against the Guelph Storm.
ATTACK FANS LINE THE SEATS IN OTTAWA
Sunday’s loss in Ottawa wasn’t from lack of fan support for the Owen Sound Attack. Hundreds of friends and family were on hand to support several Attack players with roots in the Ottawa area. Rookies Ben Cormier and Tomislav Brennan are from the nation’s capital. Second-year forward Cedrick Guindon hails from nearby Rockland, and Kaleb Lawrence from Orleans. Overage defenceman Nolan Seed also had some hometown supporters on hand – he’s from Newboro, just over an hour outside of Ottawa.
BROWN BACK
Owen Sound Attack head athletic therapist Andy Brown was back with the team and working his regular duties in Ottawa. Brown had his gold medal to show off. He was part of the staff for Canada at the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship in Halifax and Moncton.