Storm drops goaltending duel

By Alex Terry, GuelphStorm.com – The Guelph Storm lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Erie Otters on Friday night at the Sleeman Centre after a touching Remembrance Day Ceremony to start off the game.

Greg McKegg tied the game for the Otters (3-12-0-0) with 10 seconds left in the third period and Derek Holden scored the shootout winner.

Hunter Garlent and Brock McGinn each got their second goal of the year for the Storm (7-4-1-2) who outshot their opponents 45-36.

Stephen Harper gave the Otters an early lead tipping a point-shot past Garret Sparks on a 5-on-3 power-play after the Storm had missed two glorious cross-crease tap ins earlier in the period.

Guelph would have many great scoring chances in the first, most notably by Francis Menard. After the Storm broke into the attacking zone with a barrage of slick passes, Menard rang a backhand off the post behind Otter goaltender Ramis Sadikov. But at the end of one period, Guelph trailed 1-0.

McGinn brought the Storm back to par taking a page out of Menard’s book. Finding himself all alone in the slot McGinn put a backhand up and over the glove of Sadikov in a hurry for his second of the year.

After two periods of play, the score was tied 1-1.

Hunter Garlent broke the deadlock midway through the third period with his second of the year. After Ryan Horvat threw the puck into a mess of bodies in front of the net, Garlent floated in from the slot and casually slid it through an outstretched Sadikov putting the Storm up 2-1.

McKegg tied the game in dramatic fashion with 10 seconds left in the game on a wrap-around. After having a goal called back 15 seconds earlier, the Otters, with their net empty, were awarded a power play. McKegg made quick work of the opportunity, grabbing the puck behind the net and stuffing it home and sending the game to overtime.

After the overtime period didn’t provide a final score, Holden beat Sparks low on the blocker side with a quick wrist shot to win the game for the Otters in a shootout.

The Storm look to get back on track tomorrow night in Sarnia against the Sting. Puck drop is at 7:00PM.

Erie Otters 3 (SO) at Guelph Storm 2 – Status: Final SO
Friday, November 4, 2011 – Sleeman Centre

Erie 1 0 1 0 – 3
Guelph 0 1 1 0 – 2

1st Period-1, Erie, Harper 5 (Olden, Brown), 5:51 (PP). Penalties-Cook Er (delay of game), 0:08; McNaughton Gue (tripping), 4:42; McDonnell Er (roughing, 10-min. misc.), 5:24; Pedan Gue (check from behind, check from behind), 5:24.

2nd Period-2, Guelph, McGinn 2 (Menard, Kosmachuk), 0:55. Penalties-Evans Er (check from behind), 2:46; McNaughton Gue (cross checking), 7:33; McCarthy Er (roughing), 12:42; Maaskant Er (cross checking), 18:45.

3rd Period-3, Guelph, Garlent 2 (Watling, Horvat), 6:15. 4, Erie, McKegg 3 (Cook, Holden), 19:49 (PP). Penalties-Betz Er (slashing), 4:04; McNaughton Gue (roughing), 4:04; Pereira Gue (delay of game), 6:28; Richard Gue (roughing), 19:35.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout – Erie 2 (McKegg G, Olden NG, Holden G), Guelph 1 (Menard G, Kosmachuk NG, Richard NG).
Shots on Goal-Erie 6-10-19-1-1-37. Guelph 14-15-15-1-0-45.
Power Play Opportunities-Erie 2 / 5; Guelph 0 / 4.
Goalies-Erie, Sadikov 2-2-0-0 (45 shots-43 saves). Guelph, Sparks 5-3-0-2 (36 shots-34 saves).
A-3,539
Referees-Mike Marley (31), David Gauthier (28).
Linesmen-Ryan Park (67), Dustin McCrank (68).