Kosmachuk’s two lift Storm over Colts

Friday night at the Sleeman Centre, Patrick Watling scored once and Scott Kosmachuk buried two to put the Storm past the Eastern Conference leading Barrie Colts 3-2. Garret Sparks got his first start in net in over a month returning from the World Juniors and made 26 saves in a second star performance.

The Storm took a 1-0- lead heading into the first intermission off a goal by Patrick Watling. Bertuzzi, playing in his first game since October, battled for the puck in the corner and passed it out front to Watling who was wide open in the high slot. With a hard wrist shot, Watling beat Colts netminder Alex Fotinos for the Storm’s first goal of the night. Shots on goal in the first were 16-7 Colts.

Barrie answered back in the second with the man advantage tying the game up at one. It wasn’t long before Kosmachuk restored the Storm’s one goal lead scoring his 20th of the year less then two minutes later. The Toronto native intercepted a Barrie clearing attempt just beyond the blue line, a quick deke around a defender and a fast wrist shot beat Fotinos low stick side for the 2-1 lead. It was Kosmachuk again, this time short handed at 10:11 of the second. Pressuring a Colts defender on the forecheck, Kosmachuk wrestled the puck free and went in all alone scoring his second of the game and 21st of the year. It was 3-1 Storm. Shots on net in the second were 15-6 Storm.

The Colts made it close in the third pulling within one when Tyson Fawcett beat Sparks for his fourth of the season and Barrie’s second of the night. late in the game, it looked like the Colts might tie it up when the Storm found themselves killing off a penalty with a little over four minutes left. Tight defence and solid goaltending by Sparks helped the Storm retain their one goal lead as the Colts failed to find the back of the ngiht. Killing off their sixth penalty of the night, the Storm found themselves up a man when Anthony Camara was given a double minor for roughing and ejected from the game. Three seconds later Steven Beyers sqandered any hopes the Colts had to tie it up when he shot the puck into the crowd taking a delay of game penalty. The Storm would go on to win Colts 3-2.

Alex Fortinos was named the third star of the game, Garret Sparks and Scott Kosmachuk were second and first stars respectively. Final shots on net were 27-27 for the Storm.

The Storm are back at it again on Sunday when the Kingston Frontenacs visit the Sleeman Centre. Tickets are still available and can be purchard by visiting or calling the Guelph Storm Box Office at 519-837-9690.

Barrie Colts 2 at Guelph Storm 3 – Status: Final
Friday, January 11, 2013 – Sleeman Centre

Barrie 0 1 1 – 2
Guelph 1 2 0 – 3

1st Period-1, Guelph, Watling 6 (Bertuzzi, Stevens), 13:48. Penalties-Kosmachuk Gue (high sticking), 2:09; Garlent Gue (hooking), 15:31; Camara Bar (interference), 19:18; Laser Bar (roughing), 19:44; McGinn Gue (roughing), 19:44.

2nd Period-2, Barrie, Beyers 9 (O’Connor, Theoret), 4:57 (PP). 3, Guelph, Kosmachuk 20   6:01. 4, Guelph, Kosmachuk 21 (Harpur), 10:11 (SH). Penalties-Bradford Bar (tripping), 0:20; Dickinson Gue (check from behind), 4:06; Bauman Gue (tripping), 8:42; Scott Bar (hooking), 13:01; Dotchin Bar (roughing, roughing), 18:32; McGinn Gue (roughing), 18:32.

3rd Period-5, Barrie, Fawcett 4   12:33. Penalties-Kosmachuk Gue (interference), 5:57; Dotchin Bar (misc-usc), 8:59; Bauman Gue (misc-usc), 8:59; Lepkowski Bar (hooking), 10:18; Fawcett Bar (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 17:19; Fabbri Gue (check from behind), 17:19; Kosmachuk Gue (roughing), 17:19; Camara Bar (roughing, roughing, misc-abuse of off., game misc-abuse of off.), 19:20; McNaughton Gue (roughing), 19:20; Beyers Bar (delay of game), 19:23.

Shots on Goal-Barrie 16-6-4-26. Guelph 7-15-5-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Barrie 1 / 6; Guelph 0 / 7.
Goalies-Barrie, Fotinos 6-5-0-0 (27 shots-24 saves). Guelph, Sparks 19-8-0-4 (26 shots-24 saves).
A-4,822
Referees-Korey Bannerman (15), Kendrick Nicholson (22).
Linesmen-Mike Zujko (80), Dave Pfohl (96).