Storm stumble versus Whalers

One night after grabbing a last minute win over the Oshawa Generals, the Storm returned to the Sleeman Centre and fell 6-2 versus the Plymouth Whalers.

Whenever the two Western Conference rivals meet, the result is a high tempo, hard hitting game and Wednesday night was no different.  After a scoreless first period, the visitors grabbed a 2-0 lead after 40.

The third period saw six goals including four by the Whalers.  Zac Leslie cut the Plymouth lead in half on the powerplay only 35 seconds into the third and breathed life into the home side.  The Whalers replied with two of their own and chased Keegan Wilson from the Guelph net.  After Danny Vanderwiel scored his third of the game (ending a 39 game scoring drought that stretched into last season in the process, Scott Kosmachuk fired his 19th of the season past Alex Nedelijkovic.  Tom Wilson finished the scoring on the powerplay with 9:26 left.

On Saturday night, the Storm will have the chance to turn the tables on the Whalers when they travel to Plymouth for a 7:05 start.  On Sunday, Guelph heads to Saginaw for a 4 pm puck drop before a Tuesday night visit to Kitchener.  The Storm’s next home action is Friday, January 11th when the Barrie Colts come to town.

Plymouth Whalers 6 at Guelph Storm 2 – Status: Final
Wednesday, January 2, 2013 – Sleeman Centre

Plymouth 0 2 4 – 6
Guelph 0 0 2 – 2

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Pedan Gue (high sticking), 0:36; Levi Ply (roughing), 8:38; Aleardi Ply (roughing), 10:12; Pedan Gue (tripping), 11:22; Auger Gue (high sticking), 14:20; Pedan Gue (high sticking), 15:12; Mistele Ply (slashing), 16:17.

2nd Period-1, Plymouth, Vanderwiel 1 (Payne), 6:18. 2, Plymouth, Vanderwiel 2 (Sills, Carrick), 8:07. Penalties-Bauman Gue (boarding), 3:59; Wilson Ply (cross checking), 10:04; Finn Gue (high sticking), 12:21; Levi Ply (delay of game), 16:08; Carrick Ply (interference), 20:00.

3rd Period-3, Guelph, Leslie 7 (Mitchell, Finn), 0:35 (PP). 4, Plymouth, Mistele 16 (Heard), 4:19. 5, Plymouth, Aleardi 15 (Payne), 6:50. 6, Plymouth, Vanderwiel 3 (Heard, Curcuruto), 7:40. 7, Guelph, Kosmachuk 19 (Dickinson), 9:03. 8, Plymouth, Wilson 11 (Aleardi), 10:34 (PP). Penalties-McNaughton Gue (tripping), 10:05; Leslie Gue (hooking), 11:46; Meurs Ply (slashing), 13:13; Harpur Gue (slashing), 13:13; Jones Ply (check from behind, check from behind), 19:29; Mitchell Gue (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 19:29.

Shots on Goal-Plymouth 8-15-8-31. Guelph 17-10-13-40.
Power Play Opportunities-Plymouth 1 / 8; Guelph 1 / 7.
Goalies-Plymouth, Nedeljkovic 4-0-1-1 (40 shots-38 saves). Guelph, Wilson 6-9-0-2 (25 shots-21 saves); DaSilva 1-2-0-0 (6 shots-4 saves).
A-3,362
Referees-Mike Cairns (34), Keith Kaval (14).
Linesmen-Dustin McCrank (68), Ryan Holmstead (91).