Guelph Storms back with a 6-4 comeback victory over Niagara
Danny Zhilkin led the Guelph Storm to a 6-4 comeback victory over the Niagara IceDogs on Friday night at the Sleeman Centre.
Zhilkin scored a pair of third period goals in a span of 5:58, including the game-winner when he potted his team-leading eighth of the season in front of 4,333 fans.
With the victory, the Storm improved to 5-12-2-1 on the season, while the IceDogs fall to 4-12-3-0. Guelph has earned points in back-to back games and find themselves back in the win column, Niagara has dropped five consecutive games.
The visitors jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after Aidan Castle opened the scoring 1:10 into the first period with his 11th goal of the season. Brenden Sirizotti scored his fifth of the year 5:43 later.
Gavin Grudner got the Storm on the board late in the opening frame with his first career Ontario Hockey League goal, cleaning up a rebound on the powerplay with the assists from Michael Buchinger and Valentin Zhugin.
Niagara rookie forward Kevin He scored an early goal in the second to boost the IceDogs lead back up to two with a second period tally. However, Guelph stormed back, scoring five consecitive goals to seal the deal.
The rally started when Max Namestikov fired a one-timer past goaltender Owen Flores for his fifth goal of the season and his first as a member of the Storm on a feed from Matthew Poitras.
In the third period, Guelph scored three goals in a span of 9:27, which was started with Charlie Paquette’s game-tying tally. Newcomer Max Namestikov tacked on an insurance marker with an empty-net goal late.
Nigara centre Declan Waddick scored a goal with three seconds remaining in regulation, but the game was already decided.
Zhilkin has now scored 12 points in his last eight games and leads the Storm with 20 in 17 appearances this season.
“I’m just playing with confidence, I think thats the biggest thing,” said the Winnipeg Jets 2022 third round pick, outside the dressing room, post-game.
“Coming back from the Winnipeg Jets camp, just seeing how the guys play there, playing with that speed and skill they possess . . . I think that’s helping me out a lot.”
Next Up
The Storm will be back in action on Saturday at 4:00 pm, when they play host to their Highway 7 rivals, the Kitchener Rangers at the Sleeman Centre. It’ll be a sold out crowd on Ryan Callahan Tribute and Alumni Day. After that, it’s six days off before another home tilt against the Owen Sound Attack on Friday, November 25 at 7:30 pm.
Notes
Niagara IceDogs 4 at Guelph Storm 6 – Status: Final
Friday, November 18, 2022 – Sleeman Centre
Niagara 2 1 1 – 4
Guelph 1 1 4 – 6
1st Period-1, Niagara, Castle 11 (LeBlanc, Fimis), 1:10. 2, Niagara, Sirizzotti 5 (Zito), 6:53. 3, Guelph, Grundner 1 (Buchinger, Zhugin), 17:46 (PP). Penalties-Cato Niag (holding), 10:12; LeBlanc Niag (slashing), 17:23.
2nd Period-4, Niagara, Kevin He 6 (Agostinelli), 3:58. 5, Guelph, Namestnikov 5 (Poitras, Zhilkin), 11:13 (PP). Penalties-Allen Gue (hooking), 0:48; Poitras Gue (tripping), 5:36; Jesus Niag (interference), 10:10.
3rd Period-6, Guelph, Paquette 4 (Murray, Robinson), 2:40. 7, Guelph, Zhilkin 7 (Poitras, Namestnikov), 5:25. 8, Guelph, Zhilkin 8 (Poitras, Namestnikov), 11:27 (PP). 9, Guelph, Namestnikov 6 (Poitras), 19:38 (EN). 10, Niagara, Waddick 8 (Kevin He, Hull), 19:57. Penalties-Robinson Gue (holding), 2:51; Sirizzotti Niag (cross checking), 11:06.
Shots on Goal-Niagara 7-11-10-28. Guelph 16-11-17-44.
Power Play Opportunities-Niagara 0 / 3; Guelph 3 / 4.
Goalies-Niagara, Flores 3-6-2-0 (43 shots-38 saves). Guelph, Gillespie 1-0-0-1 (28 shots-24 saves).
Timeouts — Timeout 00:30 Niagara@13:27
A-4,333
Referees-Drew Jackson (21), Sean Kimmerly (10).
Linesmen-Matt Boulby (51), Kyle Rodgers (59).
