Storm 0 at Knights 0… 1st period action

In Game One in London, Nazem Kadri was the hero netting the OT winner in a 4-3 decision.  In Game Three, Kadri was the goat as Guelph capitalized on a penalty by the dynamic forward in the final minute to grab a 5-4 road win. 

For the third straight game, a single goal separated the two clubs, but for the first time it was the Storm that came out on the winning end.  Coach Jason Brooks did some line juggling prior to the contest and it seemed to inject life into Peter Holland’s game as the third year forward exploded for five points to help Guelph to the victory. 

After a scoreless opening frame with few quality scoring chances the two clubs combined for six second period tallies.  Down 2-0 in the second and down 2-0 in the series, the Storm had their work cut out for them, but Holland and linemate Michael Latta put the team on their backs and knotted the score at a pair.  Holland would start the scoring, cutting the lead to 2-1 on a brilliant individual effort powering his way through the London defence and sliding it around Michael Hutchinson at 14:43 of frame.  Less than two minutes later with the man advantage it was Latta that would notch his first of the series from Holland and Tim Campbell to tie the game at two.  After Colin Martin lifted one over Brandon Foote from in tight, Holland scored his second of the game with only 57 seconds remaining in the middle 20 to send the teams to the intermission even at three apiece.

Guelph would grab their first lead of the game at 8:24 of the third on rookie Zack Mitchell’s second in as many games.  After a first period collision sidelined overage winger Conor O’Donnell, Brooks was forced to mix the lines up again and the move to insert Mitchell alongside Holland and Latta paid off.  The Storm would hold the lead for just over five minutes when Michael D’Orazio’s hard point shot beat Foote to tie the game at 4-4.  The deciding play in the see-saw affair came late when Kadri left his feet to catch Tyler Carroll’s head against the boards along the wall and was fingered for a check to the head.  With Kadri watching from the penalty box, Taylor Beck deflected a shot that trickled under Hutchinson for the game winner.

Peter Holland was the game’s second star, while linemate Latta who tallied four points was overlooked.

The series shifts back to the Sleeman Centre for Game Four on Thursday night at 7 pm.  Be a part of Round One Rush with all regular priced lower bowl tickets only $10 during the first round.  Game Five of the duel goes Friday night in London, while Game Six if necessary will be on Sunday afternoon in Guelph at 2 pm.  The Storm box office is open 10 am – 5 pm on Wednesday and 10 am until the end of the second intermission on Thursday for in-person or phone orders at (519) 837-9690.  Click here to purchase online.

Guelph Storm 5 At London Knights 4 – Status: Final
Mar 23, 2010 – John Labatt Centre

Guelph 0 3 2 – 5
London 0 3 1 – 4

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Erlich Ldn (tripping), 1:23; Beck Gue (high sticking), 5:51; Sisca Gue (tripping), 14:15; Van Laren Gue (high sticking), 16:21.

2nd Period-1, London, Knight 3 (Kadri, D’Orazio), 7:44. 2, London, Knight 4 (Kadri, Salters), 11:49 (pp). 3, Guelph, Holland 1 (Latta, Syvret), 14:43. 4, Guelph, Latta 1 (Campbell, Holland), 16:42 (pp). 5, London, Martin 1 (Erlich, Harrington), 17:34. 6, Guelph, Holland 2 (Latta, Campbell), 19:03. Penalties-Kadri Ldn (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 7:44; Sisca Gue (high sticking), 10:36; Van Laren Gue (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 10:36; Taylor Ldn (slashing), 15:47.

3rd Period-7, Guelph, Mitchell 2 (Holland, Latta), 8:24. 8, London, D’Orazio 1 (Kadri, Salters), 13:52. 9, Guelph, Beck 3 (Holland, Sisca), 19:23 (pp). Penalties-Taylor Ldn (delay of game), 10:05; Kadri Ldn (check to the head), 18:53; Kadri Ldn (game misc-abuse of off.), 20:00.

Shots on Goal-Guelph 7-12-12-31. London 8-12-10-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Guelph 2 of 5; London 1 of 5.
Goalies-Guelph, Foote 1-1-1-0 (30 shots-26 saves). London, Hutchinson 2-1-0-0 (31 shots-26 saves).
A-8,552
Referees-Craig Spada (10), Mike Marley (31).
Linesmen-Jesse Wilmot (72), Ben Wilson (92).