Storm charge comes up short

Sunday afternoon at the Sleeman Centre, the Storm lost what turned into a heated affair versus the Soo Greyhounds.

An energetic crowd of 3,561 watched their Storm crawl back from a two-goal third period deficit to make it interesting in the dying seconds. Andrey Pedan and Matt Finn led the Guelph offence with a goal and an assist each, with Scott Kosmachuk rounding out the scoring.

The Greyhounds enjoyed the game’s first powerplay and made it count on a one-timer by Nick Cousins.  The one goal advantage would hold up until early in the second period when Pedan scored his fourth of the season on the powerplay.  After the visitors had several chances to clear the zone but failed, the Storm blueliner picked off a Soo effort at the blueline and fired a long shot by Michael Nishi in the Greyhound goal. 

Tied at one, the turning point of the contest was early in the second period.  With the Hounds already down a man, Joe Rogalski was whistled for hooking.  On the delayed penalty, Zack Mitchell sprang Cody McNaughton on a breakaway and when he was hauled down in close, the Storm found themselves up two men with a penalty shot to grab their first lead.  Moments later, McNaughton failed to convert and the visitors killed off the short five-on-three to leave the game tied at one.

Cousins broke the deadlock just under three minutes later before Corey Durocher made it 3-1 with 7:06 remaining in the middle twenty.  Down a pair, Kosmachuk bulled through the Soo defence and breathed new life into the home side before the end of the second with his sixth of the season.

Early in the final stanza a double minor for high sticking gave the Greyhounds the chance that they needed to strike for some insurance and a quick shot from the half wall by Colin Miller did just that.  The Storm refused to fold and when Finn scored shorthanded off a clean face off win by Hunter Garlent, it made for an exciting finish to a memorable game.  After several great chances in tight, the Soo cleared the zone but Kosmachuk weaved through the Greyhounds defence in the dying seconds managing one last scoring opportunity.

The Storm will be away from the Sleeman Centre next weekend when they head north to face the Sudbury Wolves on Friday night before a return engagement one night later with the Greyhounds in Sault Ste. Marie.  Then Friday, November 4th, the Erie Otters will visit Guelph for a 7:30 pm start.

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4 at Guelph Storm 3 – Status: Final
Sunday, October 23, 2011 – Sleeman Centre

Sault Ste. Marie 1 2 1 – 4
Guelph 0 2 1 – 3

1st Period-1, Sault Ste. Marie, Cousins 8 (Miller, Fritsch), 9:57 (PP). Penalties-Findlay Ssm (holding), 7:51; McGinn Gue (roughing), 7:51; Mitchell Gue (tripping), 8:27; Curcuruto Ssm (hooking), 14:36.

2nd Period-2, Guelph, Pedan 4   1:47 (PP). 3, Sault Ste. Marie, Cousins 9 (Alderson, Broll), 7:14. 4, Sault Ste. Marie, Durocher 6 (Broll), 12:54. 5, Guelph, Kosmachuk 6 (Pedan, Finn), 14:45 (PP). Penalties-Durocher Ssm (cross checking), 0:43; Curcuruto Ssm (high sticking), 2:24; Rogalski Ssm (hooking), 4:15; Pereira Gue (high sticking), 9:45; Cousins Ssm (high sticking), 11:15; Mitchell Gue (check from behind), 11:15; Schwindt Ssm (delay of game), 13:20; Finn Gue (holding), 16:10; Pereira Gue (holding), 18:39.

3rd Period-6, Sault Ste. Marie, Miller 2 (Broll, Cousins), 2:50 (PP). 7, Guelph, Finn 4 (Garlent), 14:40 (SH). Penalties-McNaughton Gue (high sticking, high sticking), 0:58; Schumacher Ssm (interference), 6:41; Turcotte Gue (high sticking), 9:48; Curcuruto Ssm (interference), 10:59; McNaughton Gue (slashing), 11:28; Kosmachuk Gue (check to the head), 12:45.

Shots on Goal-Sault Ste. Marie 9-16-17-42. Guelph 10-13-16-39.
Power Play Opportunities-Sault Ste. Marie 2 / 9; Guelph 2 / 6.
Goalies-Sault Ste. Marie, Nishi 1-1-0-0 (39 shots-36 saves). Guelph, Sparks 4-3-0-1 (42 shots-38 saves).
A-3,561
Referees-Jason Goldenberg (19), Kevin Blundell (6).
Linesmen-Drew Jackson (57), Tyler Callander (94).