Storm drop close one, fall 3-2 to Knights in overtime

It was another big game at the Sleeman Centre on Sunday afternoon.

With a Midwest Division match-up, the Guelph Storm and the London Knights went into the contest all tied up in the Western Conference standings — both eyeing fourth place.

The contest mirrored the standings as the teams went head-to-head in a tight game, leaving overtime to decide the 3-2 result in favour of the Knights.

The Knights’ Liam Foudy was the game’s first star, netting two goals including the game winner, while Alexey Toropchenko received second star recognition with a goal, and Storm captain Garrett McFadden was given third star honours following a solid performance on the backend, including six shots on net (tied for second most in the game, next to Dmitri Samorukov’s eight).

The Storm’s Anthony Popovich was between the pipes once again, turning aside 28 shots in the loss, while Joseph Raaymakers saw 35 shots, making 33 saves.

To start, the Knights’ Foudy opened the scoring 5:46 into the contest, capitalizing on an unorganized backcheck by the Storm.

Responding less than three minutes later, though, was Toropchenko breaking in to make no mistake for his 11th of the season, tying the game up at one-a-piece.

Following a tight, and scoreless, second period, the teams exchanged quick goals once again in the third — this time the Storm jumping out in front courtesy of Isaac Ratcliffe’s 31st of the year on the power play just past the halfway mark of the frame.

The Knights came right back on the next shift — and a mere 12 seconds later — to tie the game at two as Billy Moskal beat Popovich high glove side.

Regulation solved nothing, forcing overtime once again for the Storm.

Despite outshooting the Knights 3-1 in the extra frame, the Knights were the ones to capitalize, and take the extra point, as Foudy netted his second of the game 3:48 into the overtime period.

The Storm now look ahead to next weekend, first hosting the Ottawa 67’s on Friday, followed by a home-and-home series with the Erie Otters in Erie on Sunday, and back at the Sleeman Centre on Monday, February 19th. Purchase your tickets to the games online here, by calling (519) 837-9690, or by visiting the Storm Box Office in Old Quebec Street Mall.

London Knights 3 (OT) at Guelph Storm 2 – Status: Final OT
Sunday, February 11, 2018 – Sleeman Centre

London 1 0 1 1 – 3
Guelph 1 0 1 0 – 2

1st Period-1, London, Foudy 14 (Formenton, Regula), 5:46. 2, Guelph, Toropchenko 11 (Schnarr, Lalonde), 8:05. Penalties-Tymkin Ldn (roughing), 17:29.

2nd Period– No Scoring. Penalties-Perrott Ldn (roughing), 9:30; Poirier Gue (slashing), 12:15.

3rd Period–3, Guelph, Ratcliffe 31 (Samorukov, Schnarr), 11:55 (PP). 4, London, Moskal 5 (Bouchard, Coome), 12:07. Penalties-Hawel Gue (interference), 5:07; Formenton Ldn (high sticking), 11:23.

OT Period-5, London, Foudy 15 (Moskal), 3:48. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-London 7-11-12-1-31. Guelph 10-8-14-3-35.
Power Play Opportunities-London 0 / 2; Guelph 1 / 3.
Goalies-London, Raaymakers 22-9-1-1 (35 shots-33 saves). Guelph, Popovich 26-16-2-2 (31 shots-28 saves).
A-4,296
Referees-T.J. Foster (29), Quincy Evans (7).
Linesmen-Kevin Hastings (61), Brady Fagan (70).