Game Preview: Colts host Storm

 

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com

After a busy stretch of four games in six days, the Guelph Storm had six days off to look ahead to Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. match-up against the Barrie Colts. The Storm compiled a 1-2-0-1 record over the last four games, and are coming off their first back-to-back losses of the season following a 3-2 shootout loss in Owen Sound and a 7-1 defeat to the London Knights. Guelph, sitting in fourth of the Midwest Division and fifth in the Western Conference with a 7-4-0-1 record, will be focused on getting back into the win column in Barrie. 

Players to Watch

Tyler Bertuzzi and Robby Fabbri will be on the hunt for the score sheet again as both snapped their respective streaks against the London Knights on Oct. 26. Bertuzzi, the Storm’s leading point-getter with six goals for 15 points, saw an eight game point streak end, while Fabbri was held pointless for the first time since his return on Oct. 17. In five games against the Colts, Bertuzzi has one goal and two assists. Fabbri, who ranks third on the team in goals scored with four, has two points (one goal, one assist) in four career games against Barrie.

Defenseman Phil Baltisberger is an emerging bright spot on the Storm blue line, making a statement in the last four contests with two goals, one assist, and an added altercation with London’s Dakota Mermis. The 18-year-old is noticeably stepping up with a developed offensive game, already surpassing his goal total of one from the 2013-14 season.

Zac Leslie, the veteran on the Storm backend, will also look to continue his strong play on Saturday. The Los Angeles Kings prospect has six assists in six career games versus the Colts, a trend not unlike his recorded nine assists in eight games played this season. 

The Opponent: Barrie Colts (7-6-1-0)

The Barrie Colts currently sit in second of the Central Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference with 15 points on the season. In their last three games, the Colts are 1-2-0-0. Mirroring that of their visiting opposition, the Colts are also coming off a 7-1 loss, a loss dealt by the Sarnia Sting on Oct. 30.

The last three contests for the Colts have featured some instability between the pipes. With Mackenzie Blackwood, one of the selected goaltenders for Team OHL in the Subway Super Series, out of the line up with an undisclosed injury, Jordan DeKort and Daniel Gibl have been swapping time in the crease.

On Oct. 24 against the Kingston Frontenacs, DeKort was pulled from the game after allowing four goals on 13 shots. The Colts, however, would end up taking the game 5-4 with goaltender Daniel Gibl earning the 25-save shutout. Gibl has a 4.09 GAA and .879 SV% in five games played this season. 

19-year-old DeKort – who has a 6.89 GAA and .812 SV% in three games played – was back in the blue paint on Oct. 30 against the Sting, but would be pulled for the second time in two starts after allowing four goals on ten shots. The Colts wouldn’t recover from the deficit, losing 7-1 with Sarnia pocketing three additional goals on 17 shots with Gibl in net.

Despite who gets the starting nod in the crease, there will be no shortage of goal-scoring prowess for the Colts come Saturday’s match-up. Barrie’s leading point-getter Joseph Blandisi is third in the OHL with 27 points behind only Dylan Strome and Connor McDavid of the Erie Otters. The 2012 Colorado Avalanche sixth round selection is also third in the OHL in goals with 13, netting four goals in the last three games played.

Also representing the Colts in the Top 20 ranks of OHL points is Andrew Mangiapane in 15th with six goals for 17 points in 14 games played, followed by Kevin Labanc in 16th with three goals for 17 points in 14 games played.

In addition, left-winger Brendan Lemieux currently sits in 18th in the OHL for goals scored with seven in 11 games.

Last Game: 4-1 Win for the Storm (2013-14)

The last time these two teams met was during the 2013-14 season. The Storm came out on top with a solid 4-1 win. Justin Nichols received first star honours for a 34 of 35 save performance, while Fabbri recorded the game winner and added an assist as the game’s third star. Jason Dickinson also scored in the contest, and Leslie notched three assists for second star recognition. 

Colts goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood turned away 22 of 23 shots in the match-up after taking over between the pipes 40 seconds into the middle frame.

Battle of Special Teams

With the Storm sitting on a league-last penalty kill, the threat of the Colts second-ranked home power play is daunting. The Storm have been shorthanded 70 times so far this season, the fourth most in the OHL, and have given up 19 goals against for a 72.9 PK%. The Colts on the other hand, bring forward a 30.0 PP% with nine goals for on 30 power play opportunities at home. Encompassing both home and away statistics, Barrie’s power play sits eighth overall with 22.7 PP%. If the Storm look to limit scoring chances for the opposition, maintaining even strength play will be the place to start.

Guelph, however, has a strong power play on the road sitting at eighth in league standings with 25 power play opportunities and five goals for (20.0 PP%). With the Colts sitting 14th overall on the penalty kill with 77 times shorthanded for 17 goals against (77.9 PK%), the Storm could look to capitalize on the man-advantage. 

KEYS TO THE GAME 

• In Nichols We Trust: Justin Nichols currently sits second among OHL goaltenders with a 2.38 GAA and .920 SV%. Nichols is likely to get the start in net on Saturday, and with the Storm giving up an average of 35.8 shots per game in their last four contests, Nichols will need to continue his strong play in hopes of adding another tally to the win column for the defending champions.
• Penalty Parade: With Guelph ranked last in the penalty kill overall and averaging 17.1 PIM/G (fifth most in the OHL), the Storm need to stay disciplined in facing the OHL’s second-best power play at home in the Barrie Colts.
• Oh Captain, My Captain: In the Storm’s back-to-back losses this past weekend against the Owen Sound Attack and the London Knights, Jason Dickinson was held pointless. As one of the pillars of Guelph’s power up front, Dickinson finding a way to get back on the score sheet will prove to be a significant boost.

NOTES

Matthew Hotchkiss is away representing Team Canada at the World Under-17 Challenge set to begin on Nov. 2. As a result, the Storm rookie will be out of the line up both games this weekend.

Luke Burghardt has joined the Storm and may make his OHL debut this weekend. The 1998-born forward was selected by the Storm in the sixth round (120^th overall) of the 2014 OHL Priority Selection. The 5’10”, 144 lbs forward recorded 62 points (29 goals, 33 assists) in 36 games played for the Clarington Toros in his Minor Midget AAA season in 2013-14.