Storm surrender three in a row in loss to Kitchener

KITCHENER – The Guelph Storm yielded three consecutive goals to the Kitchener Rangers as they suffered their seventh consecutive Ontario Hockey League loss, a 4-3 setback to the Rangers Tuesday night at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.

It was Guelph’s fourth one-goal loss in the slump.

The teams were tied 1-1, Guelph scoring first, at the end of the first period before a scoreless second.

The Rangers shot ahead for good with the first two goals of the third.

Gavin Grundner, Brody Crane and Braeden Bowman scored for the Storm while assists were awarded to Parker Snelgrove, Zander Veccia, Rylan Singh, Jett Luchanko, Grundner and Ryan McGuire.

Hunter Brzustewicz had a goal and an assist for Kitchener while the other scorers were Cameron Mercer, Eduard Šalé and Tanner Lam. Getting one assist apiece were Justin Bottineau, Trent Swick, Max Dirracolo, Luca Romano, Luke Ellinas, Filip Mešár and Carson Rehkopf.

The Rangers outshot the Storm 27-21 and went 1-for-4 on their power play while the Storm went 1-for-5.

Damian Slavik had 23 saves for the Storm while Jackson Parsons had 18 for Kitchener.

Due to their slump, the Storm have fallen to sixth in the Western Conference at 25-21-4-1 (W-L-OTL-SOL). London Knights lead at 38-11-0-3 and are followed by the Saginaw Spirit (37-13-0-1), Soo Greyhounds (33-15-2-1), Kitchener (32-19-2-0), Owen Sound Attack (25-21-4-2), the Storm, Erie Otters (23-24-4-0), Sarnia Sting (22-27-3-0), Flint Firebirds (21-25-3-1) and Windsor Spitfires (16-29-3-2).

The Storm are to play the Peterborough Petes (ninth in Eastern Conference at 16-29-5-1) at the Peterborough Memorial Centre Thursday at 7:05 p.m. and host Erie at the Sleeman Centre Friday at 7:30 p.m. They’re also to host the Sudbury Wolves (first in Eastern Conference at 30-15-3-2) Family Day Monday at 2 p.m.

• Guelph Sports Journal