Storm need shootout goal to end home losing streak
GUELPH – The Guelph Storm were happy to have flipped the calendar to March as they put an end to a five-game Ontario Hockey League home losing streak Friday night at the Sleeman Centre.
Jett Luchanko’s goal in a shootout gave the Storm a 3-2 victory over the Owen Sound Attack for their first win their since edging the Sarnia Sting in overtime by an identical score Jan. 26.
The Storm had five home games in February and came out on the short end of every one of them.
Friday’s win also put an end to an overall four-game losing streak that included a road game in Erie last weekend and was the Storm’s second win in 13 games.
Owen Sound took the early lead with the lone goal of the first period, a power-play marker.
Braeden Bowman pulled the Storm even with the second period’s only goal.
Charlie Paquette put the hosts ahead with 1:11 to go in the third, but Owen Sound tied it 18 seconds later.
A five-minute overtime period failed to break the deadline and Luchanko was the lone skater to score of the six who participated in the shootout.
Luchanko, Max Namestnikov and Vilmer Alriksson each had an assist during regulation time for the Storm.
Declan Waddick and Servacc Petrovsky scored in regulation time for Owen Sound while assists went to Sam McCue, Cedrick Guindon, Sam Sedley and Deni Goure.
The Attack outshot the Storm 36-35 thanks to a 6-1 advantage in the overtime. Owen Sound also went 1-for-2 on its power play while the Storm didn’t score on its lone power play.
Brayden Gillespie had 34 saves for the Storm while Carter George turned aside 32 shots for the Attack.
The result leaves the Storm and Attack tied for fifth in the Western Conference and the Storm has a game in hand. Guelph’s at 27-24-5-1 (W-L-OTL-SOL) while Owen Sound’s at 26-24-5-3. Neither has clinched a playoff berth although each of the four teams above them in the standings has already secured a spot in the postseason.
London Knights lead the conference at 42-13-1-3 and are followed by the Saginaw Spirit (42-15-0-1), Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (38-16-3-1), Kitchener Rangers (37-20-2-0), Storm and Owen Sound.
The deadlocked duo are a point ahead of the Erie Otters (27-27-4-1), four ahead of the Flint Firebirds (26-28-3-1) and 10 ahead of the Sarnia (23-32-3-1). Windsor Spitfires are at the bottom of the conference standings at 18-33-4-3.
Friday’s game was the first of three consecutive home games for the Storm who have 11 games remaining on their regular-season schedule.
The Storm’s to host Saginaw Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Sleeman Centre and London Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
- Guelph Sports Journal