Quick pair of goals start Guelph Storm on way to victory
FLINT, Mich. – A pair of goals 47 seconds apart in the first period sparked the Guelph Storm to a 3-2 victory over the Flint Firebirds in Ontario Hockey League play Saturday night at Flint’s Dort Financial Center.
The win was the fifth consecutive victory by the Storm and their third 3-2 win in that stretch.
Jake Karabela opened the scoring in the game at 14:15 of the first and Braeden Bowman followed with Guelph’s second goal at 15:02.
However, Flint tied with two goals just over a minute and a half apart midway through the second before Bowman added the winner with 18 seconds to go in the second.
The third was scoreless and all three Guelph goals were power-play markers.
Jett Luchanko and Michael Buchinger assisted on all three Storm goals.
Nathan Aspinall on a power play and Coulson Pitre with the game’s lone even-strength goal tallied for Flint. Kaden Pitre assisted on both goals while Marko Stojkov and Nolan Dann each had one assist.
Flint outshot the Storm 28-24 thanks to a 13-6 advantage in the third period. Guelph went 3-for-5 on its power play while the Firebirds were 1-for-2.
Brayden Gillespie had 26 saves for the Storm while Jacob Brown had 21 for Flint.
The Storm improves to 21-12-1-1 and remains fourth in the Western Conference, one point behind third-place London Knights (22-11-0-1) and one ahead of fifth-place Saginaw Spirit (21-10-0-1). Kitchener Rangers (25-9-2-0) lead the conference and Soo Greyhounds (23-9-2-1) are second. Owen Sound Attack (16-14-2-1) are sixth and are followed by Erie Otters (15-13-4-0) in seventh, Flint (14-17-2-1) eighth, Sarnia Sting (12-21-1-0) ninth and Windsor Spitfires (11-20-2-0) 10th.
The Storm are to complete the 2023 portion of their schedule Sunday with a game against the Niagara Ice Dogs, 10th in the Eastern Conference with a league-worst 8-21-4-1 record, at the Meridian Centre in Niagara Falls. Game time is 6 p.m.
The locals are to open their play in 2024 with a three-in-three weekend next weekend when they’re to host Soo Greyhounds Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Sleeman Centre, play the Attack at Owen Sound’s Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre Saturday at 7 p.m. and host Sarnia Sunday at 4 p.m.
- Guelph Sports Journal