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Friday, May 13, 2011

Owen Sound 3 - Mississauga 2 : It's Down To Winner Takes All

The series is tied at three. There's one game remaining. The winner gets the Robertson Cup as OHL Champions, the loser goes on to the Memorial Cup with heads held high knowing they put up quite the battle. Insert all the cliche's here: Loser goes home, winner takes all, Whatever it may be, it's been a hotly contested final.

Jordan Binnington made what some consider a surprise start after not starting for over a month, Andrew Fritsch was in the lineup for Owen Sound after a 28 goal campaign. Joey Hishon popped in just his fifth goal of the playoffs, but it came when the Attack needed it most.

The Mississauga power play that was clipping at a 45% success rate in the series was solved for the most part. And the Attack power play which was successful in just 20% of its opportunities came through.

Maxim Kitsyn got the ball rolling for Mississauga on the power play with his tenth goal of the playoffs at 13:50 of the first from Jordan Mayer and Brett Flemming to put the Attack up 1-0. It was the only scoring of the period which saw Mississauga dominate.

The Majors out shot the Attack 16-5 in the opening period and if not for Binnington's heroics, the score could have been much different. The Majors converted on one of their two power play chances while the Attack had none in the first period.

The Attack would tie it at 9:48 of the second with a power play goal of their own when Garrett Wilson was set up by Matt Stanisz and Hishon. It was Wilson's 11th of the post season. Hishon would then give the Attack the lead with his goal. Robby Mignardi and Hishon would draw the assists and the Bayshore Arena in Owen Sound was alive and loud.

The period would end with the Attack up 2-1 and having out shot the Majors 15 12 in the period while going 1/1 on the power play and keeping Mississauga 0/3 in there's including killing off a two man advantage early in the period.

Geoffrey Schemitsch would put the Attack up 3-1 with an unassisted power play goal, his first of the playoffs, at 7:27 of the third. Then with 1:11 remaining in the third, Devante Smith-Pelley would score his 15th from Rob Flick and Casey Cizikas to keep fans on the edge of their seats.

But that's how the game would end and the series would be tied. Mississauga held the shot advantage for the game at 43-33. The Attack's power play finished the game at 2/2 while the Majors were 1/6.

Binnington was named the games first star and there should be no question he will get the nod for game 7. And game 7 goes Sunday at 2:00 pm at the Hershey Center in Mississauga where the Robertson Cup will be handed out to the victorious team.  Early favorites for the MVP award have to be Devante Smith-Pelley for the Majors and Robby Mignardi for the Attack. But don't be surprised if Binnington steals another game, that he gets some consideration. But only playing two games in a month may hold him back.
My prediction pre-series was Mississauga in 6 games. Well it's gone 7 and I'll stay with Mississauga to take the championship.

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