Third-period goal lifts Guelph Storm by Flint

GUELPH – The Guelph Storm struck for the lone goal of the third period as they slipped by the Flint Firebirds 3-2 in Ontario Hockey League play Friday at the Sleeman Centre.

Charlie Paquette connected for the winning goal on a power play seven and a half minutes into the final period to lift the Storm to the victory.

Flint had scored the only goal of the first period while the teams were tied 2-2 at the end of the second.

Jake Karabela and Max Namestnikov scored the other goals for the Storm while Vilmer Alriksson had two assists and Paquette and Leo Serlin had one each.

Matthew Wang and Nolan Dann scored for Flint while Tristan Bertucci assisted on both goals. Simon Slavicek also had an assist.

The Storm outshot Flint 29-26 and went 1-for-7 on their power play. They also held the Firebirds scoreless on three power plays.

Brayden Gillespie had 24 saves in the Guelph net while Nathan Day had 26 for Flint.

The win keeps the Storm in fourth place in the Western Conference. Kitchener Rangers lead at 13-5-0-0 and are followed by London Knights (11-5-0-1), Soo Greyhounds (11-6-0-0), the Storm (10-6-0-0), Erie Otters (8-7-2-0), Sarnia Sting (9-9-0-0), Flint (7-8-1-1), Owen Sound Attack (7-8-2-0), Saginaw Spirit (7-7-0-1) and Windsor Spitfires (4-11-1-0).

The Storm are to play the Knights at London’s Budweiser Gardens Saturday at 7 p.m.

• Guelph Sports Journal