Storm top 67’s in 5-4 overtime win
It was an exciting finish for the Guelph Storm, closing out this weekend’s eastern road trip with a 5-4 overtime win over the Ottawa 67’s on Sunday afternoon.
Following a big 4-2 win over the Kingston Frontenacs on Friday, the Storm made it two straight after Ryan Merkley tied the game with just over a minute remaining, only to have Cam Hillis register the game winner in extra time.
Merkley and Hillis both tallied three-point games overall, registering one goal and two assists, and two goals and one assist respectively. Liam Hawel and Garrett McFadden also had multi-point performances, recording two assists in the win. McFadden, with the two helpers, now has five assists in the last two games played.
Defenseman Owen Lalonde was a notable in the win as well, scoring his first goal of the season – and first in a Storm uniform.
For the 67’s, Tye Felhaber led the way offensively, posting one goal and two assists, while captain Travis Barron and Sasha Chmelevski each registered one goal and one assist.
Between the pipes, Storm netminder Anthony Popovich had another strong performance, turning aside 30 of 34 attempts in the win. Rookie Cedrick Andree got the start for the 67’s, making 36 of 41 saves.
The Storm got things going quickly, with Zach Poirier – playing close to hometown Mountain, Ontario – capitalizing on the power play to open the scoring 1:33 into the game.
Sam Bitten evened up the score just over five minutes later, however, the Storm took a 2-1 lead into the second courtesy of Hillis’ 16th of the season with 3:07 remaining in the opening frame.
Moving into the second, both teams found the back of the net, first with the 67’s Chmelevski registered his 17th goal of the season to knot things up at two-a-piece 4:36 into the period.
Moving into the second, both teams found the back of the net, first with the 67’s knotting things up at two-a-piece courtesy of Chmelevski’s 17th of the season 4:36 into the period, followed by Lalonde potting his first of the season to put the Storm up 3-2 in the latter half of the frame.
To open the third, the 67’s took their first lead of the game with two goals 2:19 apart, starting with Barron tying the game up at three, followed by Felhaber’s 12th of the season, making it a 4-3 contest with 11:52 left on the clock.
With just 1:41 remaining, and the goalie pulled, the Storm struck back as Merkley grabbed his 11th of the season forcing extra time.
Overtime saw the 67’s head to the penalty kill as Kody Clark was awarded two minutes for roughing, giving the Storm to capitalize on the man advantage for the second time in the game as Hillis gave the Storm a 5-4 victory with his 17th goal of the season.
The Storm will look to make it three straight wins this Friday, returning home to host the Windsor Spitfires for a 7:30pm puck drop. To purchase your tickets to the game, order them online here, by calling (519) 837-9690, or by visiting the Guelph Storm Box Office in person at Old Quebec Street Mall.
Guelph Storm 5 (OT) at Ottawa 67’s 4 – Status: Final OT
Sunday, January 14, 2018 – TD Place
Guelph 2 1 1 1 – 5
Ottawa 1 1 2 0 – 4
1st Period–1, Guelph, Poirier 3 (Samorukov, McEwan), 1:33 (PP). 2, Ottawa, Bitten 6 (Yule), 6:58. 3, Guelph, Hillis 16 (McFadden, Merkley), 16:53. Penalties-Hoelscher Ott (slashing), 0:19; Hillis Gue (tripping), 4:39; Bahl Ott (slashing), 11:55; Chmelevski Ott (high sticking), 17:50; Hoelscher Ott (tripping), 19:30.
2nd Period-4, Ottawa, Chmelevski 17 (Felhaber), 4:36. 5, Guelph, Lalonde 1 (Hawel, McFadden), 11:58. Penalties-Chmelevski Ott (interference), 11:17; Samorukov Gue (interference), 11:21; Shoemaker Gue (cross checking), 15:01.
3rd Period-6, Ottawa, Barron 9 (Felhaber, Chmelevski), 5:49. 7, Ottawa, Felhaber 12 (Barron), 8:08. 8, Guelph, Merkley 11 (Hillis, Hawel), 18:19. Penalties-Hawel Gue (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 14:08; Rippon Ott (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 14:08.
OT Period–9, Guelph, Hillis 17 (Merkley, Ratcliffe), 3:27 (PP). Penalties-Clark Ott (roughing), 2:31.
Shots on Goal–Guelph 9-11-18-3-41. Ottawa 7-16-10-1-34.
Power Play Opportunities–Guelph 2 / 6; Ottawa 0 / 3.
Goalies–Guelph, Popovich 20-13-1-2 (34 shots-30 saves). Ottawa, Andree 1-3-1-1 (41 shots-36 saves).
A-3,012
Referees-Quincy Evans (7), Michael Markovic (37).
Linesmen-Pat Smith (64), Talmadge Farnes (82).
Guelph Storm 5 (OT) at Ottawa 67’s 4 – Status: Final OT
Sunday, January 14, 2018 – TD Place
Guelph 2 1 1 1 – 5
Ottawa 1 1 2 0 – 4
1st Period–1, Guelph, Poirier 3 (Samorukov, McEwan), 1:33 (PP). 2, Ottawa, Bitten 6 (Yule), 6:58. 3, Guelph, Hillis 16 (McFadden, Merkley), 16:53. Penalties-Hoelscher Ott (slashing), 0:19; Hillis Gue (tripping), 4:39; Bahl Ott (slashing), 11:55; Chmelevski Ott (high sticking), 17:50; Hoelscher Ott (tripping), 19:30.
2nd Period-4, Ottawa, Chmelevski 17 (Felhaber), 4:36. 5, Guelph, Lalonde 1 (Hawel, McFadden), 11:58. Penalties-Chmelevski Ott (interference), 11:17; Samorukov Gue (interference), 11:21; Shoemaker Gue (cross checking), 15:01.
3rd Period-6, Ottawa, Barron 9 (Felhaber, Chmelevski), 5:49. 7, Ottawa, Felhaber 12 (Barron), 8:08. 8, Guelph, Merkley 11 (Hillis, Hawel), 18:19. Penalties-Hawel Gue (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 14:08; Rippon Ott (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 14:08.
OT Period–9, Guelph, Hillis 17 (Merkley, Ratcliffe), 3:27 (PP). Penalties-Clark Ott (roughing), 2:31.
Shots on Goal–Guelph 9-11-18-3-41. Ottawa 7-16-10-1-34.
Power Play Opportunities–Guelph 2 / 6; Ottawa 0 / 3.
Goalies–Guelph, Popovich 20-13-1-2 (34 shots-30 saves). Ottawa, Andree 1-3-1-1 (41 shots-36 saves).
A-3,012
Referees-Quincy Evans (7), Michael Markovic (37).
Linesmen-Pat Smith (64), Talmadge Farnes (82).