Game Preview: Storm close out 2015 in Peterborough

After tallying at least a point in each of the last three games played, the Guelph Storm cap off 2015 in Peterborough on Thursday night. 

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com — 

Dating back to Dec. 18, the Guelph Storm have grabbed at least a point in each of their last three games played – a streak they will be looking to extend heading into Peterborough on Thursday night. With the points coming against two league contenders in the London Knights and most recently an overtime loss to the Erie Otters this past Tuesday, with a win against the Mississauga Steelheads sandwiched in the middle, the Storm should have some confidence heading into their final contest of 2015. 

The feat won’t be easy, with the Petes holding a second-standing in the East Division with a 17-14-2-3 record and 39 points. Although, recently, Peterborough has struggled, winning only three games over their last nine – a stretch spanning the month of December.

The match-up is slated for a 6:05p.m. start. 

Player Watch

• Guelph Storm

Defenseman Garrett McFadden, sitting second on the team in points with five goals for 18 points in 33 games, is poised to compile a new career-high, already matching his previous best of 18-points set last season in 56 games. With an assist against the Erie Otters this past Tuesday, the Kincardine, Ontario native now has one goal for five points in the last six games played.  

Third on the team in production is second-year Givani Smith, registering 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 31 games this season. The six-foot-one, 197-pound forward is only two points removed from matching his rookie point total of 19, compiled through 61 games split between the Barrie Colts and the Storm last season. Although pointless in his last two games played, the Toronto, Ontario native has four goals for six points through six games in the month of December, and was all over every offensive opportunities against the Otters on Tuesday. 

Overager Tyler Hill has also been one of Guelph’s best players up front as of late, posting one goal for four points in his last three games played – held pointless only in the 2-1 overtime loss to the Erie Otters on Tuesday. Looking at the six-foot-six, 236-pound forward’s string of play before and after being sidelined due to injury, Hill has put up eight points (two goals, six assists) in his last six games. Through 19 games this season, the Hagersville, Ontario native has nine points (two goals, seven assists). 

• Peterborough Petes

A familiar name leads the Petes in production – that of Guelph’s former first round pick in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection, Hunter Garlent. Traded to the Petes in the middle of the 2013-14 season, the Thorold, Ontario native – now an league-overager – has a new career-high 41 points (18 goals, 23 assists) in 36 games. With three points in Peterborough’s 5-1 win over the Mississauga Steelheads on Tuesday, the five-foot-nine, 182-pound forward reached the new milestone offensively, while adding to his hot-play as of late, registering seven goals for eight points in his last five games played. 

It’s likely Matthew Mancina will get the start for the Petes against his former squad on Thursday. Since being traded to the Petes at the start of the 2014-15 campaign, following a championship title with the Storm in 2014, the Tecumseh, Ontario native is posting some of the best numbers of his career with a 2.79 goals-against-average and a league-standing of fifth .915 save percentage. The six-foot-two, 209-pound goaltender has a 10-9-1-2 record with one shutout for the Petes this season. 

A third name to watch in maroon is Peterborough’s second leading scorer Eric Cornel. The fourth-year veteran has 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) in 36 games and has four goals for 10 points through nine games in the month of December. 

The Opponent: Peterborough Petes (17-14-2-3, 39 points)

The Petes stand as one of the bigger threats in the Eastern Conference, sitting second in the East Division behind only the Eastern Conference’s leading team, the Kingston Frontenacs. With a .542 winning percentage through 36 games this season, the Petes have put together a solid season thus far. However, things haven’t exactly been going overly well recently, with Peterborough grabbing only three wins over their last nine games played.

For the Storm, the key to continuing their recent success of three points in the last four games stands in solid defensive play. The Petes are tied for second most goals for in the Eastern Conference with 121, with a former member of the Storm in Hunter Garlent leading the way with 41 points on the season thus far.

Also worth noting, the Petes haven’t been outstanding on home ice, holding a 7-6-1-2 record in 16 games as hosts this season, in contrast to that of a 10-8-1-1 record in 20 games on the road. 

GAME NOTES

• The Storm make their only visit to Peterborough on Thursday, facing off against the Petes for the first of two times this campaign.
• The match-up will feature two former members of the Storm in forward Hunter Garlent and goaltender Matthew Mancina.

• The Storm have registered at least a point in each of their last three games played. 

• Defenseman Garrett McFadden is one point away from setting a new career-high in points, matching his previous best of 18 with an assist this past Tuesday against the Erie Otters. 

• Following Thursday’s match-up, the Storm visit the Kitchener Rangers on New Year’s Day.