Storm double up Otters

Tyler Bertuzzi scored his first two goals of the young season including the game winner to help the Storm to a 6-3 win over the Erie Otters at the Sleeman Centre.

A boisterous crowd of over 3,800 were on hand for the Guelph debut of 15 year old ‘phenom’ Connor McDavid of the Otters, but the home side spoiled his first visit with three unanswered third period goals to break open a 3-3 deadlock.

The game looked like it would be an easy one for the Storm in the early going as they jumped ahead 2-0 at the 2:22 mark on singles by Bertuzzi and Patrick Watling, but a resilient Erie club battled back to even the score at a pair.  Tied at two, Scott Kosmachuk pushed the Storm on top again when he potted his team best sixth of the season with a nice individual effort at 4:26 of the second.  The Otters answered again and this time it was Spencer Abraham with a harmless looking shot that redirected off Garret Sparks’ back then off the shaft of his stick and into the Storm cage.  Abraham’s marker with 6:07 to play in the middle frame rounded out the scoring in the opening 40 minutes.

The third period was all Storm as they struck three times to lock up their fourth win in five tries.  Bertuzzi’s shot from the high slot started the spree then Zack Mitchell finished a tic-tac-toe play in tight from Tanner Richard and Kosmachuk only 17 seconds before Jason Dickinson scored on a virtual replay of his goal at home last Friday night.

With the win, Guelph’s record improves to 5-2-0-1 and their 11 points are fourth best in the OHL. Sunday afternoon the Storm will look to make it six straight games without a regulation loss when the Peterborough Petes come to the Sleeman Centre for a 2 pm start with a Skate With the Storm after the contest.

Erie Otters 3 at Guelph Storm 6 – Status: End of Game
Friday, October 12, 2012 – Sleeman Centre

Erie 1 2 0 – 3
Guelph 2 1 3 – 6

1st Period-1, Guelph, Bertuzzi 1 (Richard, Leslie), 1:20. 2, Guelph, Watling 2 (Horvat, Finn), 2:22. 3, Erie, Brown 5 (Labardo), 13:24. Penalties-Garlent Gue (cross checking), 16:26; Pedan Gue (cross checking), 18:29.

2nd Period-4, Erie, Brown 6 (McDavid, Labardo), 0:24 (PP). 5, Guelph, Kosmachuk 6 (Richard), 4:26. 6, Erie, Abraham 2 (Harper, Evans), 13:53. Penalties-Mitchell Gue (slashing), 10:12; Abraham Er (slashing), 15:03.

3rd Period-7, Guelph, Bertuzzi 2 (Horvat, Watling), 1:46. 8, Guelph, Mitchell 3 (Kosmachuk, Richard), 16:08 (PP). 9, Guelph, Dickinson 5   16:15. Penalties-served by Milne Gue (too many men), 7:54; Leslie Gue (holding), 10:04; Crisp Er (interference), 12:58; McDavid Er (boarding), 15:25; Pelech Er (fighting), 17:58; Richard Gue (instigator, fighting, 10-min. misc., 10-min. misc., game misc-inst. (last 5:00)), 17:58.

Shots on Goal-Erie 12-13-12-37. Guelph 9-15-15-39.
Power Play Opportunities-Erie 1 / 6; Guelph 1 / 3.
Goalies-Erie, Dansk 2-3-0-1 (39 shots-33 saves). Guelph, Sparks 4-2-0-1 (37 shots-34 saves).
A-0
Referees-Ryan Park (10), Scott Hoberg (13).
Linesmen-Darryl Wolfe (53), Jason Finley (37).