Storm best Otters in shootout

Valentin Zhugin scored the game-winner in the shootout to help the Guelph Storm earn a 4-3 shootout victory over the Erie Otters at Erie Insurance Arena on Thursday.

With the victory, Guelph’s record improves to 21-20-4-1, Erie’s drops to 16-24-1-4, The Storm have won eight of their past ten games and move into sixth place in the Western Conference, the Otters are 4-4-1-1 in their past ten and stay put at the bottom of the West.

Noah Sedore opened the scoring when he fired a wrist shot top shelf, over the blocker-side shoulder of Guelph goaltender Patrick Leaver less than five minutes after puck drop. It was Sedore’s 13th goal of the year and his fifth point in three games.

The Storm responded late in the first period with a pair of goals in a span of 4:13.

First, it was Cooper Walker, who beat Erie goalie Nolan Lalonde wit a one-timer shot that was set up with a feed from Matthew Poitras on the power play. The Storm captain is up to 10 goals and 26 points in the 2022-23 regular season.

Jake Karabela added another late first period goal with a tip-in that found it’s way into the back of the Otters net on the power play. It was Karabela’s career-high 15th goal of the campaign, he’s recorded four points in the last two games.

The Midwest Division rivals exchanged blows in the middle of the second frame, with Erie scoring first.

Ondrej Molnar tied the game up at two on an odd-man rush with assists from Elias Cohen and Carey Terrance. Molnar has scored three goals with 10 points in 17 games of his rookie campaign.

Guelph responded quickly to retake the lead just 1:01 later, when Braeden Bowman deflected a shot from Matthew Poitras. It’s been an impressive season for Bowman, who’s up to 18 goals and 34 points in 32 games played.

Kaleb Smith tied the game up in the early stages of the third period, which would be enough to send this game to overtime and evenutally a shootout. Smith has seven goals on the year, with one in back-to-back games.

In the shootout, it was Valentin Zhugin who played the hero for the Storm. He scored in the shootout, using a nifty move to fake out Lalonde, putting the puck through the pads of the goalie.

Next Up:

Guelph will be back in action on Friday night in Kitchener against the Rangers with puck drop at 7:30pm. They’ll return home for another date with their Highway 7 rivals on Sunday at the Sleeman Centre for a 2:00pm start. Tickets to the next Storm home game at the Sleeman Centre can be found by clicking here.

Game Notes:

Guelph Storm 4 (SO) at Erie Otters 3 – Status: Final SO
Thursday, February 2, 2023 – Erie Insurance Arena

Guelph 2 1 0 0 – 4
Erie 1 1 1 0 – 3

1st Period-1, Erie, Sedore 13 (Sam Alfano, Spencer Sova), 3:34. 2, Guelph, Walker 10 (Poitras, Zhugin), 13:18 (PP). 3, Guelph, Karabela 15 (Allen), 17:31 (PP). Penalties-Romeo Gue (delay of game), 5:55; Colby Saganiuk Er (high sticking), 12:43; Gilmartin Er (tripping), 16:09; Sam Alfano Er (boarding), 19:14.

2nd Period-4, Erie, Ondrej Molnar 3 (Cohen, Carey Terrance), 9:46. 5, Guelph, Bowman 18 (Karabela, Poitras), 10:47. Penalties-Gilmartin Er (misc-abuse of off.), 13:08; Spencer Sova Er (slashing), 13:08; Bowman Gue (roughing), 20:00.

3rd Period-6, Erie, Kaleb Smith 7 (Bruce McDonald, Spencer Sova), 3:27. Penalties-Artyum Kulakov Er (cross checking), 12:46.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout – Guelph 1 (Bowman NG, Zhugin G), Erie 0 (Gilmartin NG, Molnar NG, Cohen NG).
Shots on Goal-Guelph 14-12-7-1-1-35. Erie 10-12-10-4-0-36.
Power Play Opportunities-Guelph 2 / 5; Erie 0 / 2.
Goalies-Guelph, Leaver 16-14-1-2 (36 shots-33 saves). Erie, Lalonde 7-12-1-3 (34 shots-31 saves).
Timeouts — Timeout 01:00 Guelph@9:31
A-4,592
Referees-Pat Myers (40), Jason Faist (5).
Linesmen-Chris Weier (43), Kyle Rodgers (59).