Game Preview: Storm face elimination
The Guelph Storm head into Game Four of the Western Conference Semi-Final looking to avoid elimination as the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds hold a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.
Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com
A 3-0 deficit in a playoff series is about as big of an obstacle as you’re going to find in hockey.
Nevertheless, the Guelph Storm – who have certainly shown a sense of tenacity throughout the 2014-15 season – will look to take it one game at a time heading into Tuesday’s Game Four against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. The Greyhounds, coming off the OHL’s regular season title, have controlled the Western Conference Semi-Final offensively, outscoring the Storm 22-8 over the past three games played.
The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday in a do-or-die Game Four for the Storm, while the Greyhounds will be in the hunt for their second sweep of the 2015 OHL Playoffs.
Get behind your Storm and purchase your tickets to Tuesday’s Game Four by visiting the Guelph Storm Box Office in Old Quebec Street Mall, the Storm store in Stone Road Mall, online at GuelphStorm.com, or by calling (519) 837-9690.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE.
Western Conference Semi-Final Summary: Sault Ste. Marie 3, Guelph 0
- April 8, Game One: Guelph 4 @ Sault Ste. Marie 7
The Storm were 0.6 seconds away from going into the third period of play down one goal and in contention for a possible upset in Game One of the series. However, a five-on-three advantage for the Greyhounds due to penalties to Chris Marchese and Robby Fabbri in the last minute of the middle frame created an opportunity the first-overall Soo ensured to capitalize on.
Scoring in the final second of the second, and then again 51 seconds into the third period made it four consecutive goals for the Greyhounds – a feat too much for the Storm to overcome, despite a late third period comeback push.
C.J. Garcia and Garrett McFadden were bright spots for the Storm, as both defenceman registered three points. Garcia pocketed his first two career playoff goals while adding an assist, and McFadden added three helpers on the night.
- April 9, Game Two: Guelph 3 @ Sault Ste. Marie 9
Following Tyler Bertuzzi‘s opening goal of the contest 3:08 into the first, the Greyhounds’ Nick Ritchie began a stream of six consecutive tallies (five registered in the first) on the man-advantage, capitalizing on a hooking penalty taken by Luke Cairns.
Down 6-1, rookie Luke Burghardt would receive a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding at the 8:32 mark of the middle frame. On the penalty, Chris Marchese pocketed two shorthanded goals, sandwiching a seventh marker for the Greyhounds on the power play.
Zach Senyshyn and Ritchie closed out the second period, and the game’s scoring, making it a 9-3 final. The former Peterborough Pete and 2014 NHL Draft selection of the Anaheim Ducks, Ritchie, recorded a four point night with three goals and an assist.
- April 12, Game Three: Sault Ste. Marie 6 @ Guelph 1
Player Watch
Through three games this series, the Storm have only held the lead once – that was in Game Two in Sault Ste. Marie, with Tyler Bertuzzi potting the game’s first goal 3:08 into the opening period. With an uphill climb ahead of them, trailing 3-0 to the Greyhounds on the series, getting ahead – and doing so early – will be a key point to Game Four. With that, the Storm’s leading point-getter, closing out the regular season just two points short of the century club, Bertuzzi will be the spark Guelph needs in a do-or-die match-up on Tuesday. The Detroit Red Wings prospect has seven points (six goals, one assist) through eight games this postseason, and brings the sought-after energy that only makes things difficult for the opposition.
A mid-season addition for the Greyhounds, former Peterborough Pete Nick Ritchie has been a force to be reckoned with. Selected tenth overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, the Orangeville, Ontario native won gold with Team Canada at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship in Toronto, and, based on his outstanding play through the 2015 OHL Playoffs thus far, is evidently in the hunt for another first-place finish this year. Ritchie has 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) in seven games played in the postseason, with six goals and three assists in three games against the Storm. With Guelph pushing to avoid elimination in Game Four on Tuesday, keeping this six-foot-three, 229-pound winger off the scoresheet will be of high priority.
GAME NOTES
- The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds hold a 3-0 series lead heading into Game Four in Guelph on Tuesday.
- With a victory for Guelph, the series will shift back to Sault Ste. Marie on Friday for Game Five. With a Greyhounds win, the Soo will advance to the Western Conference Finals.
- Tickets are available for Tuesday’s Game Four! Get behind your Storm and purchase yours HERE.
View the complete Western Conference Semi-Final preview here.
