Game Preview: Storm look to climb back into series
The Western Conference Semi-Final shifts to Guelph for Game Three on Sunday where the Storm will look to push back into the series as the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds hold a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven match-up.
Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com
Things haven’t exactly gone as planned for the Guelph Storm in the second round of the 2015 OHL Playoffs.
Game’s One and Two featured 7-4 and 9-3 losses in the Soo respectively, and are back-to-back games the Storm will likely hope to forget when the puck drops on Game Three at 6:30 in Guelph on Sunday.
Looking to climb back into the best-of-seven series using home ice advantage, the Storm will play host to the Greyhounds for the next two games, with Game Three on Sunday, and Game Four on Tuesday.
Get behind your Storm with the opportunity to purchase tickets to all three possible games in Guelph (Game Three, Game Four, and Game Six) by visiting the Guelph Storm Box Office in Old Quebec Street Mall, the Storm store in Stone Road Mall, online at GuelphStorm.com, or by calling (519) 837-9690.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE.
Western Conference Semi-Final Summary: Sault Ste. Marie 2, Guelph 0
- April 8, Game One: Guelph 4 @ Sault Ste. Marie 7
The Storm were 0.6 seconds away from going into the third period of play down one goal and in contention for a possible upset in Game One of the series. However, a five-on-three advantage for the Greyhounds due to penalties to Chris Marchese and Robby Fabbri in the last minute of the middle frame created an opportunity the first-overall Soo ensured to capitalize on.
Scoring in the final second of the second, and then again 51 seconds into the third period made it four consecutive goals for the Greyhounds – a feat too much for the Storm to overcome, despite a late third period comeback push.
C.J. Garcia and Garrett McFadden were bright spots for the Storm, as both defenceman registered three points. Garcia pocketed his first two career playoff goals while adding an assist, and McFadden added three helpers on the night.
- April 9, Game Two: Guelph 3 @ Sault Ste. Marie 9
Player Watch
After two tough losses, all eyes should be on Storm captain Jason Dickinson who has more than proven to be an essential element in the postseason. Coming off 71 points (27 goals, 44 assists) in 56 games this season, Dickinson has six points (four goals, two assists) in the 2015 playoffs, including a goal against the Greyhounds in Game One. Prior to the Western Conference Semi-Final, the Dallas Stars prospect maintained a point-per-game production in the postseason, and currently sits with 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists) in 38-career playoff games. Dickinson is also a career plus-20 in the postseason, while holding outstanding leadership ability to set the tone for what the Storm need to do in order to force their way back into this best-of-seven match-up.
For the Greyhounds, offence has been a-plenty with two trade-acquisitions of the 2014-15 campaign leading the way. Undoubtedly, former Peterborough Pete Nick Ritchie has been outstanding with five goals and one assist in the last two games, however, former Kitchener Ranger Justin Bailey hasn’t been too far behind with two goals and two assists through Game’s One and Two of the Western Conference Semi-Finals. Bailey, certainly no stranger to the Storm as a previous member of the Highway Seven rivalry, registered 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists) in 22 games for the Greyhounds, totaling for 69 points (34 goals, 35 assists) in 57 games on the season. In the postseason, the 1995-born Williamsville, New York native had only seen action in 2013, playing ten games with the Rangers while recording three points (one goal, two assists). In six games through the 2015 OHL Playoffs with the Soo, Bailey is above a point-per-game production rate with seven points (five goals, two assists) in six games.
GAME NOTES
- The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds hold a 2-0 series lead on the Western Conference Semi-Final heading into Game Three on Sunday in Guelph.
- In the 2014-15 regular season, two match-ups between the Storm and the Greyhounds played in Guelph were decided by one-goal results, with the first game at the Sleeman Centre requiring overtime (3-2 Greyhounds), and the second match-up featuring a shootout decision (6-5 Greyhounds).
- Following Game Three on Sunday, the teams will play Game Four on Tuesday, April 14. Tickets can be purchased for both Game’s Three and Four in Guelph HERE.
View the complete Western Conference Semi-Final preview here.
