McEwan, McFadden lead Storm to 3-2 overtime victory in Flint

On the tail end of back-to-back road games, the Guelph Storm turned things around on Saturday night.

Following a 4-1 loss to the Kitchener Rangers on Friday, the Storm rebounded — and in an exciting way — downing the Flint Firebirds in a 3-2 overtime final.

Between the pipes, Anthony Popovich put together another stellar performance, making 38 of 40 saves to earn third star honours, while Firebirds’ Garrett Forrest turned aside 42 of 45 Guelph attempts.

Storm captain Garrett McFadden continued his strong play, tallying two points on the night with the tying goal in the third period, and the assist on the overtime winner scored by the game’s second star, James McEwan.

For the Firebirds, captain Nicholas Caamano did most of the damage with one goal and one assist, for first star recognition.

It was Caamano who opened the game’s scoring 11:24 into the first period. With Ryan Merkley serving a two-minute minor for diving, Ryan Moore sent a pass out front from the goal line, leaving Caamano to put it past Popovich with a quick touch on the door step, making it a 1-0 game on the power play.

Roles quickly reversed, though, with Caamano sent off for slashing, Merkley took his turn on the man-advantage, faking a shot only to step in and send a wrist shot in off the left post to tie the game up at one-a-piece with 2:06 remaining in the first.

The tie wouldn’t break until the 9:31 point of the third period as C.J. Clarke registered his second of the season and the game’s first even-strength marker off a point shot that found its way past traffic, and eventually Popovich, to give Flint the 2-1 lead.

Just under three minutes later the Storm were back on the power play courtesy of a slashing penalty to the game’s most recent goal scorer, Clarke. The Storm went to work on the man-advantage, putting together a pretty passing play with Nate Schnarr on the point feeding Merkley who found Cam Hillis down low to send a cross-ice pass to McFadden, making no mistake in tying the game up at two with his fifth of the season.

60 minutes wouldn’t do it, forcing overtime to be the deciding factor.

After lots of back and forth action in the extra frame, it would be two veterans in McFadden and McEwan rushing in on the Firebirds. With just 55 seconds remaining in play, McFadden fed McEwan who netted the winner, putting the cap on the 3-2 victory for the visiting squad.

The Storm return to action on Friday hosting the Eastern Conference’s North Bay Battalion and former Storm forward, Luke Moncada. Purchase your tickets online here, by calling (519) 837-9690, or in person at the Storm Box Office in Old Quebec Street Mall. The Storm also host the Sudbury Wolves on Sunday, November 12th, giving fans the opportunity to capitalize on the Weekend Pass Deal. For more information, call (519) 837-9690.

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Guelph Storm 3 (OT) at Flint Firebirds 2 – Status: Final OT
Saturday, November 4, 2017 – Dort Federal Event Center

Guelph 1 0 1 1 – 3
Flint 1 0 1 0 – 2

1st Period-1, Flint, Caamano 8 (Moore, Colella), 11:24 (PP). 2, Guelph, Merkley 5 (Schnarr), 17:54 (PP). Penalties-served by Durham Flnt (too many men), 1:04; Merkley Gue (diving), 10:49; Merkley Gue (cross checking), 13:23; Caamano Flnt (slashing), 17:49.

2nd Period– No Scoring. Penalties-Dellandrea Flnt (hooking), 3:55.

3rd Period-3, Flint, Clarke 2 (Caamano, Gordeev), 9:31. 4, Guelph, McFadden 5 (Hillis, Merkley), 12:25 (PP). Penalties-Clarke Flnt (slashing), 10:44; Gretz Flnt (boarding), 12:04.

OT Period–5, Guelph, McEwan 4 (McFadden), 4:05. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal–Guelph 17-15-9-4-45. Flint 10-18-9-3-40.
Power Play Opportunities–Guelph 2 / 5; Flint 1 / 2.
Goalies–Guelph, Popovich 8-6-0-1 (40 shots-38 saves). Flint, Forrest 6-7-2-0 (45 shots-42 saves).
A-2,365
Referees-Sean Reid (26), Craig Dease (39).
Linesmen-Brad Horan (75), Nicholas Bet (76).