Balanced Attack

OWEN SOUND, Ont. — Jordan Binnington had 41 saves in a must-win game for the Owen Sound Attack, but he wasn’t taking all the credit for their huge victory.

Geoffery Schemitsch scored the winner in the third period as the Attack beat the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors 3-2 Thursday and forced a decisive Game 7 in the Ontario Hockey League final.

“The team played outstanding,” said Binnington. “Helping me out in every way. The penalty kill, everyone was blocking shots. It was awesome. It made it a lot easier for me.”

Game 7 is Sunday afternoon in Mississauga, Ont.

Captain Garret Wilson and Joey Hishon added second-period goals for the Attack.

Maxim Kitsyn and Devante Smith-Pelly replied for the Majors.

The Majors outshot the Attack 15-5 in the first period, but were only able to beat Binnington once.

Binnington, making his first start since Game 4 of the Attack’s first-round series with London, held off a late surge by the Majors and earned his third win of the playoffs.

Kitsyn opened the scoring at 13:50 of the first period on the power play. Jordan Mayer passed the puck, from behind the net to an open Kitsyn, who outwaited Binnington before beating him with a high shot.

The Attack took control of the second period, coming back and eventually taking the lead.

“The game turned in the second half,” said Majors coach Dave Cameron. “Our compete level wasn’t high enough. Instead of hunting bodies we were chasing pucks.”

Wilson scored the game-tying goal on the power play at 9:48 of the second. With Majors goaltender JP Anderson down and out Wilson jumped on the loose puck, scoring his 11th of the playoffs.

Minutes later, the Attack killed off a two-man disadvantage, resulting in a momentum swing in favour of the Attack.

At 16:21 of second, Hishon took a pass from Robby Mignardi. Failing on his first attempt, Hishon got his own rebound and capitalized on the second chance giving the Attack their first lead of the game 2-1.

“After we scored the first goal. That brings some emotion to your hockey club,” said Attack coach Mark Reeds. “Hishon scoring that 2-1 goal that’s really where it changed.”

Schemitsch scored what ended up being the winner on a power play at 7:27 of the third period.

Schemitsch’s point shot found its way through a maze of legs, beating Anderson. It was the defenceman’s first goal of the playoffs.

The Majors pulled Anderson for an extra attacker at 17:27, and Smith-Pelly scored his 15th of the playoffs at 18:49 to cut the lead to 3-2.

Reeds wouldn’t say one way or another which one of his three goalies will get the start in Game 7.

“You have to look at the whole picture, the whole situation,” he explained. “You have to look at what’s best for everyone.”

Anderson kept the Majors in the game during the third stopping multiple odd-man rushes. He made 30 saves in the loss.

With the assist on Hishon’s goal, Mignardi extends his point streak to 11 games. He now leads all playoff scorers with 15 goals and 23 points. He was held without a goal for the first time in the series.

Both teams are looking to capture their first J. Ross Robertson Cup since the relocation of the respective teams. The Guelph Platers moved to Owen Sound in 1989, while the Majors moved from Toronto to Mississauga in 2007 after being revived as a franchise in 1996.

FROM THE CANADIAN PRESS