It was a big game in Oshawa tonight with playoff-like intensity between two of the top teams in the OHL as London came to town.
Leafs President Brendan Shanahan was in the press box watching a pair of the Leafs top prospects go head to head. Even Fraser Minten was in the crowd watching his two buddies square off.
Unfortunately for Danford, he had his worst game of the season. It was obvious right from the beginning of the game that London was targeting Danford with big hits on the forecheck. He took two or three crunching checks early on, including one from Cowan that laid him out. Danford got up and immediately took a dumb penalty for a retaliation cross check.
I mentioned previously that Danford takes more punishment than he dishes out. He just doesn’t have that nasty streak in him to dish out some dirty payback when the refs aren’t looking. I’m not sure if he’ll ever develop that in time.
Then in overtime, Oshawa’s two forwards literally crashed the net and were tied up in the crease with a London player when Danford decided to gamble and pinch on a loose puck in the corner. It was a gamble that he didn’t really have much chance of winning. Cowan was leaking out of the zone and of course Danford lost the gamble as the puck was chipped ahead to Cowan who went in on a clear cut breakaway to end the game.
I felt terrible for Benny, especially seeing him doubled over his stick with his head down because he knew he’d screwed up. And with his boss in attendance to make matters worse. Granted, he was in a tough situation either way on that final play. If he had backed off, it would have been a sure 2-on-1 for London - - which is almost as bad as the breakaway.
Going to be interesting to see what happens with Danford and Cowan this week.
