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OHL Guelph Storm

Battalion Down Storm in Overtime

January 21, 2016 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


A two-goal effort from Givani Smith and a solid display from Michael Giugovaz between the pipes wouldn't be enough to push the Guelph Storm over the North Bay Battalion, falling 4-3 in an overtime result on Thursday night.

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com ---

It's another point for the Guelph Storm.

Requiring a post-regulation result for the third straight game, the Storm put forth another solid effort, but wouldn't be able to grab the second point on the table, falling 4-3 to the North Bay Battalion on Thursday night.

Goaltender Michael Giugovaz was near perfect between the pipes, turning aside 36 of 40 shots on the night, while Battalion netminder Jake Smith made 28 saves in the win.

Givani Smith was the Storm's best player up front, pocketing two goals, while overager Mike Amadio earned the game's overtime winner for North Bay.

To start, the Storm started off slow in what was an, otherwise, fast and physical opening frame. The Battalion, coming out of the gates ready to play, fired a total of 17 shots on Giugovaz in the first period, forcing the overage netminder to steal the show through the first 20 minutes of play. Giugovaz was stellar, keeping the Storm in the contest with several big stops, including a quick pad save to deny the Battalion a power play marker five minutes into the game.

In the latter half of the frame, the Storm began to find a flow to their game, creating a few odd man rushes and scoring opportunities to finish off the period with some energy and nine shots on goal.

After successfully killing off the game's only two penalties in the first period, the Storm found themselves down a man once again just minutes into the middle frame. Levi Tetrault, sent to the box for a check-from-behind 2:48 into the second, gave way to the Battalion's third straight power play.

On the advantage, the Battalion finally capitalized as Zach Poirier, on the doorstep, scored his eighth of the season firing in a rebound after Giugovaz came up with the first two initial saves on the play.

Nearing the halfway point of the second, the penalty script flipped as Kyle Potts took the Battalion's first penalty of the game for slashing. Less than a minute later, Mathew Santos followed suit with a boarding call, giving the Storm a five-on-three advantage for 1:35.

Making no mistake, a tic-tac-toe play starting with C.J. Garica to James McEwan only to finish off with Smith in front, the Storm tied things up with a power play marker of their own.

Special teams took over from there as both teams exchanged advantages with four-on-four time mixed in throughout the remainder of the middle frame. On the game, both squads would go 2/5 on the man-advantage.

Moving into the third period, Santos pocketed the third straight power play goal of the game with a one-timer off the doorstep, putting North Bay up 2-1 just over a minute into the period.

Just past the halfway point, Luke Burghardt clawed the Storm back into a tie game with an end-to-end rush with a wraparound finish, making it a 2-2 score.

Almost three minutes later, Max Kislinger clipped Garcia, drawing a four-minute advantage for the visiting team. On the power play, the Storm managed to create lots of puck pressure, eventually capitalizing with 3:21 left in the game. Smith, scoring his second of the night and his 18th of the season, found the back of the net right where he calls home - on the doorstep banging in a rebound - to pull the Storm ahead for the first time all game.

The Battalion showed no sign of quit, though, pulling the Smith and knotting things up once again with 52 seconds remaining.

From there, the game needed overtime, making it three straight post-regulation results for the Storm.

This one wouldn't have a happy ending, however, as 46 seconds into the extra frame, Mike Amadio flew down the wing, pulling away from his man, to rocket home the winner for a 4-3 final in favour of North Bay.

The Storm are right back in action on Friday night visiting the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

GAME NOTES

The Storm and the Battalion met for the first of two times this season.

The Storm have exceeded regulation for three straight games with the overtime loss in North Bay.

Earning a point in the loss, Guelph has at least a point in 11 of their last 13 games played.

With two goals against North Bay, Givani Smith now has nine goals in his last eight games played.

With an assist on Thursday, defenseman Garrett McFadden has 13 points in his last 13 games played, and 15 points in his last 16.

Guelph is back in action on Friday, traveling to Sault Ste. Marie to face the Greyhounds.

Check out the Guelph Storm Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2016


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