Game Stories: Strom drop third straight
Looking to rebound after dropping their first game of 2017, the Guelph Storm were back in action Friday night hosting the Windsor Spitfires. Opening a three-in-three weekend the Storm looked to Liam Herbst to make his first start of 2017 squaring off against the OHL goalie of the month for December, Michael DiPietro. It was a physical match between the two squads but Windsor would prevail with a 5-2 victory.
Opening the scoring was Gabe Vilardi of the Spitfires beating Herbst on a breakaway off of a Storm turnover, just seven minutes into the period.
Quickly countering, the Storm tied things up on a Nate Schnarr power play one-timer off a great pass from Ryan Merkley. This marks the Waterloo native’s third straight game with a goal.
However, in the dying minutes of the period, the Spitfires would find the back of the net twice as both Julius Nattinen and Graham Knott would give Windsor the 3-1 lead through 20 minutes of play.
The Spitfires would also lead in the shots column 18-7.
Opening the period on the power play, the Storms top unit went to work and capitalized as Merkley beat DiPetro for his seventh goal of the season.
As the period continued the Spitfires would take full control of the game and test Herbst often, but the veteran netminder made several highlight reel saves to keep the Storm in the game.
Guelph entered the second intermission down 3-2 and trailed in shots 32-16.
Despite being heavily outshot, the Storm were just one goal back and needed a big third period to complete the comeback, but those plans were put to rest as Jeremiah Addison scored just over two minutes into the period.
The Spitfires would not look back, shutting down the Guelph attack.
Nattinen would add a power play marker later in the frame to secure the 5-2 victory.
Herbst was busy making 37 saves on 42 shot attempts in the loss, while DiPietro stopped 25 of the 27 he faced.
With the loss, the Storm fall to 14-20-2-2, and the Spitfires improve to 25-7-4-1.
It is a quick turnaround for the Storm as they travel south of the border tomorrow night for their first matchup with the Flint Firebirds this season. Guelph will then return home on Sunday afternoon for their second and final meeting with the Sudbury Wolves.
GAME NOTES
- Liam Hawel, acquired Friday afternoon made his Storm debut Friday night.
- Nate Schnarr has scored in three straight games.
- With two points, Merkley became the first OHL rookie to hit the 30 point mark, and the ninth OHL defenceman to hit the mark.
- The Storm have dropped both games against the Spitfires, the next game will take place on January 22, in Windsor.
Windsor Spitfires 5 at Guelph Storm 2 – Status: Final
Friday, January 6, 2017 – Sleeman Centre
Windsor 3 0 2 – 5
Guelph 1 1 0 – 2
1st Period-1, Windsor, Vilardi 13 (DiGiacinto), 7:19. 2, Guelph, Schnarr 11 (Merkley, Smith), 10:50 (PP). 3, Windsor, Nattinen 6 (Vilardi, DiGiacinto), 16:48. 4, Windsor, Knott 9 19:12 (PP). Penalties-Addison Wsr (interference), 10:30; Stanley Wsr (roughing), 10:50; Smith Gue (cross checking), 10:50; Knott Wsr (cross checking), 12:09; Ratcliffe Gue (high sticking), 18:39; Ratcliffe Gue (high sticking), 19:12; McCool Wsr (roughing), 19:56.
2nd Period-5, Guelph, Merkley 7 (McFadden, McEwan), 1:33 (PP). Penalties-Sergachev Wsr (tripping), 0:46; Corcoran Wsr (check from behind), 4:49; McFadden Gue (slashing), 5:08; Stanley Wsr (roughing, misc-usc), 17:15; Rhodes Gue (roughing), 17:15; Smith Gue (check from behind), 17:15; DiGiacinto Wsr (tripping), 19:42.
3rd Period-6, Windsor, Addison 17 (Day), 2:41. 7, Windsor, Nattinen 7 (Brown, Day), 13:32 (PP). Penalties-DiGiacinto Wsr (tripping), 6:56; McFadden Gue (hooking), 12:18.
Shots on Goal-Windsor 19-14-8-41. Guelph 6-10-11-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Windsor 2 / 5; Guelph 2 / 7.
Goalies-Windsor, DiPietro 18-5-4-0 (27 shots-25 saves). Guelph, Herbst 8-13-2-1 (41 shots-36 saves).
A-4,218
Referees-Ryan Moniz (21), Chris Thornton (13).
Linesmen-Adam Harris (49), Fraser Williams (71).
3 STARS
- WSR Gabriel Vilardi
- WSR Julius Nattinen
- GUE Ryan Merkley
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The 2016-17 Season is proudly presented by RBC.
