Firebirds Power Past Storm
November 20, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release
For the majority of the game, it was the same dance to the same tune for the Guelph Storm and its fans.
The Storm (2-18-1-0) surrendered three power play goals as the Flint Firebirds (9-11-1-1) went on to defeat the home team 5-2 Friday night at the Sleeman Centre.
Guelph, who ranks second in the OHL averaging 16.6 penalty minutes per game and sits 19th in the league with a home penalty kill rate of 68.6%, were second period victims of four consecutive Flint power plays in a span of 8:57.
Two quick power play markers in the middle frame proved to be the difference in the contest.
On Flint's fourth power play of the evening, Mathieu Henderson scored the go-ahead goal with 6:23 to play in the period, batting in a rebound after Storm goaltender Bradley Van Schubert made the first save on a Connor Chatham shot, who finished the game with three assists.
Just 2:08 later and with another man advantage, Ryan Moore scored his second of the game when he wristed a laser past Van Schubert's blocker through traffic from high in the right side of the zone to give the Firebirds a quick 3-1 lead.
That was all Flint needed.
Guelph's Luke Burghardt scored with 7:25 remaining in the third period to cut the Firebirds' lead to 4-2 after Zach Grzelewski padded Flint's lead 6:04 earlier by finishing off a rebound after Van Schubert failed to control a far shot from Chatham.
Zack Pittman sealed the deal for the visitors when he scored an empty-netter with 2:19 remaining to make it 5-2.
There were some positives for the Storm, though.
Guelph played a solid first period by creating chances and receiving timely saves from Van Schubert, resulting in a 1-1 draw after the opening 20 minutes.
Moore opened the scoring with his first of two goals on the night just 10 seconds after a Kyle Rhodes was assessed a penalty for high-sticking.
Nick Deakin-Poot tallied his first career OHL goal when he knotted the game 18 seconds later after the rookie poked in a loose puck in front of Firebirds netminder Alex Nedeljkovic.
Van Schubert made 26 stops in the loss while Nedeljkovic turned aside 26 shots to earn the victory.
Guelph has now lost five straight games and 15 of their last 16.
Final shots were 30-28 for the Firebirds.
The Storm are back in action tomorrow afternoon at the Sleeman Centre where they'll finish their current '3-in-3' stretch against the Kitchener Rangers. Guelph will honour its all-time leading scorer Jeff O'Neill before the start of the game. Puck drop is slated for 4:00 p.m.
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