Storm rallies for seventh win in a row
By Tony Saxon, Guelph Mercury
Opportunity knocked for Adam Craievich and the Guelph Storm rookie is taking full advantage.
With six regulars still out of the lineup, Craievich continued to make most of his increased ice time Friday night, scoring the winner and adding an assist in a 5-3 win over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds at the Sleeman Centre.
The win was the Storm’s seventh straight and moved just one point back of the conference-leading Erie Otters.
After scoring just four points in his first 22 OHL games, Craievich now has five points in his past four games.
“When you’re not playing a lot you’re really trying to focus on not making a mistake. When there’s more opportunity you worry less about making a mistake and focus on making stuff happen,” Craievich said.
“With more opportunity, I guess I feel more comfortable. I want to make an impact and make the most of my opportunity.”
His goal with 4:41 left in the third period proved to be the winner, capping a third-period comeback that saw Guelph score the final three goals of the game after the Soo had taken a 3-2 lead early in the third.
The winner came courtesy of a Hounds turnover in their own zone. Pius Suter caused the turnover and the puck to Craievich high in the slot. His innocent wrist shot found the top corner past goaltender Matt Murray, who appeared to be screened on the play.
“They don’t ask how, they just ask how many. Sometimes, if you work hard, you get lucky,” said Craievich, who was stopped on a penalty shot in the second period.
That’s seven in a row for Guelph and leaves them one point back of the first place Erie Otters in the Western Conference standings as the Storm played without six regulars in the lineup.
“Again, give our guys a lot of credit,” Storm coach Scott Walker said. “We didn’t have a great game from everybody, but everybody seemed to be working. If they had 82 per cent left in the tank, they gave you 82 and tried to give you 83.”
Walker had particular praise for Zack Mitchell, who has been logging a ton of ice time of late.
