Guelph Storm doubled by Erie Otters
GUELPH – A pair of second-period goals sparked the Erie Otters to a 4-2 victory over the Guelph Storm in Ontario Hockey League play Friday night at the Sleeman Centre.
Those two goals, the first one shorthanded, broke a tie and put the Otters ahead for good.
Erie never trailed in the game and now lead the regular-season series between the two teams 3-2.
The hosts displayed an anemic attack during the match as they totaled 17 shots in the game and never took more than six in a single period. The Otters had 38 shots overall and had 12 or more each period.
Erie scored the lone goal of the first period and led 3-1 after the second.
Charlie Paquette and Hunter McKenzie scored for Guelph while Quinn Beauchesne assisted on both goals and Max Namestnikov and Leo Serlin each had one assist.
Bruce McDonald, Carey Terrance, Dylan Edwards and Martin Misiak had a goal apiece for Erie while assists went to Alex Messier, Brett Hammond, Brett Bressette, Ondrej Molnar and Owain Johnston.
Brayden Gillespie had 34 saves for the Storm and Jacob Gibbins had 15 for Erie.
Both teams were scoreless on their power plays, the Otters on three power plays and the Storm on four.
The result allows the Otters to close the gap to the Storm in the Western Conference standings to five points.
London Knights lead the conference at 38-12-0-3 (W-L-OTL-SOL) while the Saginaw Spirit are second at 38-14-0-1 and the Soo Greyhounds are third at 35-15-2-1. The Kitchener Rangers are fourth at 33-19-2-0 while the Storm are fifth at 26-22-4-1, the Owen Sound Attack are sixth at 25-22-4-2, the Otters are seventh at 24-25-4-0, Flint Firebirds are eighth at 23-25-4-0, Sarnia Sting are ninth at 22-28-3-1 and Windsor Spitfires are 10th at 16-29-3-3.
Top eight qualify for the playoffs and London and Saginaw have already clinched playoff berths.
The Storm are to host the Eastern Conference-leading Sudbury Wolves (31-15-3-3) Family Day Monday at 2 p.m. at the Sleeman Centre.
- Guelph Sports Journal