The Owen Sound Attack remain in control of their playoff fate after picking up two big points in Barrie.
Bruce McDonald scored the game-winner on a 2-on-1 with 3:27 remaining in the third period, as the Attack clipped the Barrie Colts 3-1 in Ontario Hockey League action Thursday evening at Sadlon Arena.
Cole Zurawski and Ben Cormier also scored for the Attack (25-34-4-3), which moved two points up on the Sarnia Sting (21-32-6-7) for sole possession of the eighth and final playoff spot in the OHL’s Western Conference. Sarnia lost 5-0 to the Windsor Spitfires.
Kashawn Aitcheson had the lone goal for Barrie (41-22-2-2).
“It’s a massive win for us,” says Attack head coach Scott Wray. “Just the way we played that first period showed how desperate our players were and how bought in they were to come in here and two to get the two points.”
Those two points inch the Attack closer to a playoff berth, which could come as early as Friday evening. Owen Sound’s three-in-three to end the regular season shifts to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Friday night for their eighth and final meeting this season with the Rangers (46-14-4-2). There are some clinching scenarios for Owen Sound. If Sarnia lose in regulation Friday against the Flint Firebirds (28-32-2-3), the Attack would need only one point against Kitchener to punch their ticket into the postseason.
Owen Sound is also within one point of the seventh-place Soo Greyhounds (27-35-2-2).
McDonald’s big goal for the Attack in Barrie came on a 2-on-1 that started from the defensive zone, as Carter George aggressively went after a loose puck as forecheckers pressed – sending it into the neutral zone for Declan Waddick. He led the rush up the left wing and then as he closed in on goal, sent a saucer pass to his right on the tape to McDonald – who lifted a shot high over the glove of Sam Hillebrandt.
It was nice moment for McDonald, scoring the big goal in the building where one month ago – he was caught by a big hit from Aitcheson that knocked the Attack overage forward out of the lineup for five games.
“A beautiful feed from Waddick to McDonald. Waddick’s been playing probably his best hockey … in the last two weeks. Just nice to see them get rewarded. Especially McDonald after getting knocked out in Barrie by Aitcheson,” Wray says. “For him to get the final laugh there, was really, really sweet.”
Cormier would add an empty-netter, winning a puck battle in front of George and then whipping it down the ice and splitting the posts from nearly 200-feet away to put the Attack in front 3-1 with 1:24 remaining in the third.
Owen Sound came out firing in the first period – outshooting the Colts 26-8. It was the most shots the Attack had on goal in a single period all season. Zurawski had the lone goal at 13:38, cutting out front from below the goal line and firing the puck five hole past Hillebrandt. 1-0 Attack.
It stayed that way until early in the third. Carter George was sensational again. The game tilted Barrie’s way in the second period – as the hosts outshot Owen Sound 23-6. But as he does, the Attack star goaltender and Los Angeles Kings prospect calmly controlled the lower half of the net – sliding left, and right and using his pads to deny chance after chance.
Aitcheson would get one through just 1:18 into the third. He took a pass inside the top of the circle on the left side of the zone just after a Barrie power play ended, and then put a nice wrist shot high over the glove of George to tie the game 1-1.
George made 42 saves in the win, while Hillebrandt stopped 40 taking the loss. Shots finished 43-43. The Colts were 0 for 4 on the power play; the Attack finished 0 for 3.
HIGHWAY 26 SPLIT
Friday’s win for the Attack was their third over the Central Division champion Colts this season, earning a split in the six-game season series between the two Highway 26 rivals. The Attack finished 3-2-0-1 against Barrie in the 2024-25 campaign.
DEC, GREENBERG OUT
The Attack were without forward Michael Dec and defenceman Lenny Greenberg in Barrie Thursday. Dec had his wisdom teeth removed earlier this week, and Attack head coach Scott Wray says he is not expected to be available Friday against Kitchener or for Saturday’s season finale at the Bayshore against the Guelph Storm.
Greenberg is dealing with an illness and is day-to-day.
