Attack drop Storm in shootout
Stephanie Coratti, GuelphStorm.com
In a game that featured almost everything, the Guelph Storm grabbed one point in Owen Sound with a 3-2 loss in the shootout. The Attack won their fourth straight advancing to 8-3-1-2, while the Storm drop to 7-3-0-1 on the season.
In a fast paced, pressure filled match-up, the goalies were the real story.
Attack goaltender Michael McNiven proved to be a problem for the Storm. In just his second start of the season, the Georgetown, Ontario native turned away 38 of 40 shots.
Justin Nichols was also solid between the pipes once again, stopping 29 of 31 shots including a penalty shot and a couple of breakaways.
Up front for the Storm both Robby Fabbri and Tyler Bertuzzi continued their point streaks. Bertuzzi had two goals on the game, stretching his streak to eight games and his point total to 15 (six goals, nine assists) in 11 games played, while Fabbri recorded two assists for seven points (four goals, three assists) in five games played.
Despite the scoreless first period, there was still plenty of action in the initial twenty minutes. The Attack came out of the gates fast and physical, outshooting the Storm 7-3 just over midway through the period. However, a penalty kill for the visitors would swing the momentum.
With Fabbri taking a two-minute slashing penalty, the Storm managed to kill off the penalty without allowing a shot on goal. Fabbri would exit the box scot-free and the Storm would pick up the pace, ending the goalless period with shots in their favour, 15-12.
The fast-paced play would continue in the middle frame. Owen Sound goaltender Michael McNiven wouldn’t be solved until the 15:47 mark of the second with Bertuzzi pocketing the first of the game seconds after a powerplay expired. Fabbri and Zac Leslie would notch the assists on the goal.
Just over a minute later, Owen Sound’s leading point-getter Kyle Platzer would capitalize on a defensive mishap by the Storm tying the game up at one.
The last twenty minutes of regulation featured two more goals. Owen Sound’s Petrus Palmu would score just over three minutes into the period to give the home team a 2-1 lead. The following play saw Palmu take off for a breakaway with Jason Dickinson aggressive on the defense with a hook. As a result, Palmu would be awarded a penalty shot. Nichols, however, would come up big once again to keep the game at 2-1 for Owen Sound and allow his team the chance to tie it up.
At the midway point of the period, the Attack would get into some penalty trouble. Jonah Gadjovich would be called for high sticking, while Damir Sharipzyanov would be given two for tripping just over a minute later. The Storm capitalized on the 5-on-3 advantage with Bertuzzi scoring his second of the game from Fabbri and Leslie to tie the game up at two. Leslie, who played in his 200th OHL game tonight, now has four assists in the last two games played.
Overtime would be needed, although four seconds into extra time Fabbri would shatter a piece of glass with a wrist shot giving both teams a break before battling it out for the remaining point.
After taking a too-many-men penalty at the 2:58 mark, the Attack would come close to ending the game with Zach Nastasiuk almost capitalizing shorthanded. Nichols, however, would remain solid between the pipes with a huge toe save on the Detroit Red Wings prospect.
Bertuzzi would come up short for the hatrick at the hands of the crossbar in the final minutes of overtime leaving a shootout to solve the contest.
In the first round, Owen Sound’s Palmu scored first, followed by Bertuzzi finding the back of the net as well.
Platzer would get one past Nichols in the second round, while McNiven would stop Dickinson giving Ethan Szypula a chance to win it for the home team. Szypula would do just that, solidifying the 3-2 shootout win for the Attack.
The Guelph Storm look ahead to Sunday’s match-up against the London Knights at home. The game will be the first time the two teams meet since last playing in the Memorial Cup in May. The puck is set to drop at 6:30.
GAME NOTES
Leslie Lends a Hand: Zac Leslie, who played in his 200th OHL game tonight in Owen Sound, has registered four assists in the last two games. Leslie now has nine points – all assists – in seven games.
Fabbri vs. the Attack: Robby Fabbri now has nine points (four goals and five assists) in eight career games against the Owen Sound Attack. In addition to being lethal on the scoresheet against the Attack, Fabbri shattered a piece of glass with a wrist shot four seconds into overtime.
Also an important notable: Fabbri has registered at least one point in every game since returning to the Storm line up five games ago.
Controlling the Storm: Heading into the game tonight, the Guelph Storm had an average of 17.1 penalty minutes per game, the fifth most in the OHL. However, a disciplined attitude was in full effect tonight with the Storm only sitting in the box for four minutes on the game.
Walker-less: Head Coach Scott Walker was not behind the bench for tonight’s game against the Attack due to illness.
Looking to London: The Storm look to close out their ‘3-in-3’ stretch Sunday when they face off against the rival London Knights in Guelph. It will be the first time the two teams meet since the Storm ousted the Knights from the Memorial Cup tournament officially in May 2014. The match-up also features Spyke’s Halloween bash which includes a costume parade and a ‘best costume’ contest.