It was a night to forget in London for the Owen Sound Attack.
Jacob Julien scored a hat trick and added an assist, and Ruslan Gazizov had five points as the Knights whacked the Attack 8-2 in Ontario Hockey League action Friday night at Budweiser Gardens.
Max McCue had two goals, while Sam Dickinson and Jared Woolley also scored for London (19-11-0-1), which pulled away with five goals in the second period.
Ethan Burroughs and Declan Waddick tallied for the Attack (15-13-2).
Owen Sound’s nine-game point streak on the road, and a run of six straight wins away from the Bayshore came to an end.
The Attack actually had the lead after the first period. Burroughs made it 1-0 at 15:59 of the first period, pouncing on a puck after an offensive zone faceoff win by Deni Goure and quickly roofing a shot over the glove of Owen Willmore.
But the tide turned in the second period. Furiously. Gazizov got the Knights on the board at 6:27, the first of four goals in a span of 4:25 for London. Carter George was pulled after the fourth Knights goal.
Dickinson scored London’s fifth unanswered in the middle frame at 19:11 to make it 5-1.
Then the gloves came off between Burroughs and Landon Sim. The Attack overage forward got the takedown and appeared to provide an immediate boost, as Waddick scored on a breakaway seven seconds after play resumed and cut the Knights’ lead to 5-2 into the end of the second period.
But the third went all London’s way as well. Julien notched a pair to complete his hat trick, and then Woolley got one in the dying seconds of the blowout win.
Willmore made 25 saves in the win, while George stopped 20 taking the loss. Corbin Votary turned aside nine of the 13 shots he faced in relief.
The Attack play their final game before the OHL holiday break Saturday night at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre against the Windsor Spitfires. Game time is 7 p.m.