Storm gains ground with 4-2 win

Sunday afternoon, the Storm finished their northern Ontario swing with a 4-2 win over the Wolves to gain two points in their chase for home ice advantage in the Western Conference playoffs.  Guelph’s win combined with a loss by the Kitchener Rangers, leaves the Storm three points back of Kitchener with a Tuesday night visit to the Aud on the horizon.

In Sudbury, Tyler Bertuzzi enjoyed his homecoming.  With lots of friends and family in the crowd, the second year forward scored the game winner and added an insurance marker later in the second stanza. 

The Storm powerplay was an improved two-for-seven on the afternoon and put the club on top 1-0 at the 7:44 mark of the first.  After collecting three helpers in Guelph’s 6-3 Friday night win versus the Soo, Tanner Richard picked up where he left off as he held off a Sudbury defender and neatly slid a centering feed to Brock McGinn, who redirected his 26th of the year under Franky Palazzese. 

The turning point in the contest was a Storm penalty kill early in the second.  With the game knotted at one, the Wolves and their number one ranked home ice powerplay in the OHL had 1:48 of five-on-three.  Garret Sparks who easily could have been a star in the win with 39 saves, smothered every puck that came his way and the Storm PK did the rest as they cleared the zone every chance they had.  While Sudbury jumped out to a 2-1 lead later in the second, it easily could have been a two-goal lead.

With Charlie Dodero in the box, McGinn struck again to tie the game at two.  Robby Fabbri, who was named the first star with three assists, slid a quick pass to Jason Dickinson in the corner.  Dickinson bulled his way towards the side of the goal before his dished to McGinn for another tap in goal.

Guelph scored two more times to take a 4-2 advantage despite being outshot 15-9 by the time they pushed in front by two.  Sudbury native Tyler Bertuzzi scored his 10th of the season as he deflected a Ben Harpur shot and then Bertuzzi notched another as he finished a pretty two-on-two with Fabbri by lifting it over Palazzese from in tight.

After surrendering 34 shots over the first forty minutes, the Storm defence clamped down in the third allowing only seven.  Sparks continued his stellar play and the visitors remained disciplined to keep the Wolves powerplay off the ice to retain a 4-2 final.

Following Tuesday’s visit to Kitchener, the Storm will host the Soo Greyhounds, who are hot on Guelph’s heels for the fifth spot in the conference.  One night later, the Saginaw Spirit come to the Sleeman Centre for a Saturday night start.

Guelph Storm 4 at Sudbury Wolves 2 – Status: Final
Sunday, March 3, 2013 – Sudbury Community Arena

Guelph 1 3 0 – 4
Sudbury 1 1 0 – 2

1st Period-1, Guelph, McGinn 26 (Richard, Pedan), 7:44 (PP). 2, Sudbury, Kubalik 16 (Harris, Kahun), 12:06. Penalties-McFadden Sby (tripping), 4:22; Bertuzzi Gue (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 6:27; Kubalik Sby (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 6:27; Cummins Sby (tripping), 6:51; Horvat Gue (slashing), 13:00; Kantor Sby (slashing), 15:02; Bertuzzi Gue (cross checking), 17:34; Kubalik Sby (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 17:34; Pedan Gue (roughing), 18:14; Kantor Sby (cross checking), 18:14; Posa Gue (interference), 18:53; Silk Sby (high sticking), 19:45.

2nd Period-3, Sudbury, Baptiste 18 (Campagna), 7:47. 4, Guelph, McGinn 27 (Dickinson, Fabbri), 8:56 (PP). 5, Guelph, Bertuzzi 10 (Harpur, Fabbri), 10:38. 6, Guelph, Bertuzzi 11 (Fabbri, Auger), 15:03. Penalties-Pedan Gue (boarding), 2:07; Horvat Gue (cross checking), 2:19; Dodero Sby (hooking), 8:16.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Thibodeau Sby (high sticking), 3:16; Kantor Sby (check from behind), 17:13.

Shots on Goal-Guelph 8-10-10-28. Sudbury 16-18-7-41.
Power Play Opportunities-Guelph 2 / 7; Sudbury 0 / 4.
Goalies-Guelph, Sparks 33-14-0-4 (41 shots-39 saves). Sudbury, Palazzese 16-13-3-6 (28 shots-24 saves).
A-3,946
Referees-Ryan Carroll (9), Chris Carnegie (44).
Linesmen-Jean-Yves Maillet (45), Shandor Alphonso (85).