Storm host Otters tonight at 6:30pm

By Eric Balnar, Guelphstorm.com

A tough weekend of hockey just got tougher. But regardless of how daunting the task ahead may be, Storm fans and players alike are welcoming the challenge.

The Erie Otters, #1 in the CHL rankings, are rolling in to Guelph looking to extend a 10 game winning streak and add more cushion to a 10 point lead over the Storm.

Guelph has been mired by inconsistent play as of late. Last weekend, Guelph dropped a 5-3 contest at home to Owen Sound before convincingly winning two road games.

Then, the Storm looked a little lost in London as they fell 5-2 at the hands of the Knights.  Things got back on track last night during a 4-0 win in Owen Sound as the Storm put together a confident looking effort to keep pace in the arms race of the OHL’s Eastern Conference.

But now is the time to strike. Erie is without Connor McDavid. That doesn’t mean it comes easy. Erie boasts a plethora of threats including OHL point leader Connor Brown and OHL goal leader Dane Fox.

Guelph will have to give a full 60 minute effort. They beat the Otters in the first game of the season in overtime, but fell twice on the road.

Time to even the season series. Here’s what to look for:

THE PLAYERS

Guelph: Matthew Mancina – The 17-year-old rookie has his time to shine in his biggest start of his young career. Mancina has won his last three starts and is fresh off a 35 save shutout performance Saturday night vs. Owen Sound. In 15 games played, Mancina has a 2.58 GAA, a .914 save percentage which are the strongest numbers among rookies. He’ll be sent in to the fire this evening. In 20 minutes of action vs. Erie on Nov. 28th, Mancina allowed three goals on nine shots. He’s still in the net, calm in demenour and seems ready to anchor his team to a massive victory.

Erie: Dane Fox – It’s not even Christmas and he has 41 goals. There’s not other way of saying it: What Dane Fox is doing is simply incredible. 34 games, 41 goals and 66 points has Erie loaded with an unexpected superstar. He has scored in all but 9 games this season, but two of them have come against Guelph.  

THE GAME

Goals, Goals and More Goals: Somebody tell Oz to ready his voice because if history tells us anything, he will have a busy night in store. You could hear the Storm PA Announcer’s voice echoe throughout the building on multiple occasions because this contest feautures the two highest scoring teams in the OHL.  Erie has 167 goals this year. Guelph has 165. In their current 10 game winning streak, Erie scored 5 goals in 8 of those games. The Storm, meanwhile, is averaging 5.2 goals a game when playing in front of the home crowd which has Storm fans salivating for free wings

Save the best for last: Playing three games in three days is no easy task, but of late Guelph’s play in the last game has been the strongest. In their last three “final” games of the weekend set, the Storm has piled up three consequetive wins. The last was a convincing 7-4 road win over Sarnia. Can they do it again vs. their toughest opponent yet?

Erie Hotters: Lame pun aside, there is no hotter team in the OHL at the moment. Actually, scratch that, there has been no better team in all of Canada all season. Erie is in the midst of their second double digit-winning streak this season. In those games they have steamrolled opponents by a combined score of 59-16.

THE FINAL WORD

The Guelph Mercury reported that Scott Walker was “fuming” after a 5-2 loss to London on Friday night.

Erie, like London, are roadblocks in the way of Guelph’s path to the Memorial Cup. Guelph should give a much more inspired effort to help show the nation that they are in fact for real. Simply put: this is a statement game.

But this game is meaningful for the Otters as well. They have a great chance to provide some distance between themselves and Guelph before the Christmas break.

Regardless of the score…this one is going to be fun.