Depth charges Storm to win

Friday night in front of a raucous standing room only crowd at the Sleeman Centre, the Storm rolled four lines and six defence all night long and the visiting Soo Greyhounds didn’t have an answer in a 6-2 win.

The Storm victory over sixth place Sault Ste. Marie, along with Kitchener’s 4-3 shootout loss, leaves Guelph four points behind the fourth place Rangers with a game in hand and five points in front of the Hounds.

While the Storm owned a 43-27 advantage in shots on goal, Garret Sparks was terrific early on while the outcome was still in doubt.  The third-year netminder earned his 34th win of the campaign to pull within one of Ryan MacDonald’s Storm record of 35.

The success of the Storm this season has been the result of their scoring depth and tonight that depth was in full force.  The home side picked up goals from three different lines with five players enjoying multi-point evenings.  On the year, a dozen players have hit double digits for goal scoring with three more banging on the door with nine markers.

Cody McNaughton opened the scoring at the 13:07 mark of the first before the visitors answered back less than two minutes later.  The Greyhounds went to the powerplay moments after with a chance to grab their first lead of the night, but instead Tanner Richard picked up a Ben Harpur clearing effort and broke in all alone on Matt Murray before sliding the go ahead tally through this goalie’s legs.

Richard’s marker put the Storm on top for good.  Brock McGinn, Scott Kosmachuk and Ryan Horvat made it four unanswered and staked Guelph to a 5-1 lead with 13:43 remaining in the third.  After the Soo cut the lead to 5-2, Zack Mitchell potted his 22nd of the season to make it a 6-2 final.

Saturday night, the Storm will return to action with another game at the Sleeman Centre when the Saginaw Spirit visit for a 7 pm start.

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 2 at Guelph Storm 6 – Status: Final
Friday, March 8, 2013 – Sleeman Centre

Sault Ste. Marie 1 0 1 – 2
Guelph 2 1 3 – 6

1st Period-1, Guelph, McNaughton 15 (Horvat, Pedan), 13:07. 2, Sault Ste. Marie, Tolchinsky 25 (Alderson, Cousins), 14:55. 3, Guelph, Richard 9 (Harpur), 16:58 (SH). Penalties-Broll Ssm (high sticking), 9:35; Horvat Gue (hooking), 15:31; McGinn Gue (check to the head), 19:50.

2nd Period-4, Guelph, McGinn 28 (Dickinson), 2:34. Penalties-Miller Ssm (cross checking), 4:10; served by Kirkup Ssm (too many men), 5:43; Bertuzzi Gue (check from behind, check from behind), 7:37; Beukeboom Gue (delay of game), 7:42; Schumacher Ssm (slashing), 12:53.

3rd Period-5, Guelph, Kosmachuk 32 (Richard), 3:33 (PP). 6, Guelph, Horvat 9 (Watling, McNaughton), 6:17. 7, Sault Ste. Marie, Miller 19 (Gaudet, Nurse), 6:36. 8, Guelph, Mitchell 22 (Pedan, Kosmachuk), 12:59. Penalties-Beukeboom Gue (tripping), 0:48; Sproul Ssm (slashing), 2:51; Cousins Ssm (check from behind), 3:44; Miller Ssm (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 6:45; McGinn Gue (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 6:45; Schumacher Ssm (roughing), 10:09; McCann Ssm (roughing), 14:23; Leslie Gue (slashing), 16:43; Mallette Ssm (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 19:46; Kosmachuk Gue (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 19:46.

Shots on Goal-Sault Ste. Marie 7-11-9-27. Guelph 18-11-14-43.
Power Play Opportunities-Sault Ste. Marie 0 / 7; Guelph 1 / 8.
Goalies-Sault Ste. Marie, Murray 24-18-2-2 (43 shots-37 saves). Guelph, Sparks 34-15-0-4 (27 shots-25 saves).
A-4,715
Referees-Sean Pindar (3), Mike Cairns (34).
Linesmen-Ryan Lachine (81), Dave Pfohl (96).