Game Preview: Storm Push for Four Straight
Published on January 16, 2016 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release
As the Peterborough Petes visit the Sleeman Centre for the lone time this season on Sunday afternoon, the Guelph Storm will look to extend their season-high streak to four consecutive wins.
Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com ---
It's time to go for four straight.
That's something the Guelph Storm haven't been able to do yet this season. After earning their third consecutive win - the longest win-streak yet this campaign - on Friday in a dramatic 4-3 nine-round shootout result, all in comeback fashion, the Storm will push for another big two points on Sunday afternoon at the Sleeman Centre.
The Storm are a very hot as of late, compiling a 7-2-1-0 record in their last 10 games, and have won five of their last six games played while earning at least a point in nine of their last 11.
The Peterborough Petes (19-18-2-4), visiting Sunday for an afternoon match-up, will look to stunt Guelph's hot streak, especially after dropping a 5-2 result to the Ottawa 67's on Saturday night.
Puck drop is slated for 3:00pm.
Player Watch
Guelph Storm
Just as the Storm are playing a bit more heated as of late, so is sophomore Givani Smith. The six-foot-one, 197-pound forward, noticeably one of Guelph's feistiest up front, has six goals for eight points in his last six games, with two three-point efforts in the mix. The Toronto, Ontario native has 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists) in 39 games this season.
Although technically held pointless in the Storm's 4-3 comeback shootout win on Friday versus Owen Sound, rookie Nic Sicoly has put forth two solid displays already this week. With two assists on Wednesday in a 3-0 win over the London Knights, the five-foot-nine, 165-pound forward went on to be the shootout hero, giving the Storm the chance at a win after nine-rounds in the head-to-head battle. The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native has five points (two goals, three assists) on the season.
On the back end, Garrett McFadden is hard to ignore. The third-year veteran stands 11th among OHL defensemen with 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) through 41 games, and is only a mere point removed from a Top 10 position. In the last 14 games, the five-foot-eleven, 180-pound blueliner has compiled three goals for 14 points, going pointless only twice.
Peterborough Petes
It'll be more of a welcome back than a welcome for Petes' leading scorer Hunter Garlent. A former first-round pick of the Storm, the now overage forward leads the Eastern Conference squad with 51 points (23 goals, 28 assists) through 43 games, and is very much in reach of surpassing his career-high of 69 points registered as a sophomore in 2013-14, splitting time between the Storm and the Petes that campaign.
Not too far behind is Eric Cornel, also with 51 points on the season, tallying for 20 goals and 31 assists through 43 games. The second round (44th overall) draft selection of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft carries a four-game point streak into Sunday's contest, recording two goals for eight points in the stretch. Looking back to the last match-up with the Storm on New Year's Eve, the six-foot-two, 195-pound forward earned second star recognition in the loss, putting up two goals and an assist as the Petes' best player.
Third-year forward Steven Lorentz also had a solid display against the Storm on Dec. 31, pocketing a goal and an assist in the 6-4 loss. Selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the seventh round (186th overall) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the six-foot-three, 191-pound centre has 38 points (18 goals, 20 assists) through 43 games this season.
The Opponent: Peterborough Petes (19-18-2-4, 44 points)
After falling to the Storm on Dec. 31 in a 6-4 result, the Petes went for a bit of a slide, dropping their next three before earning a 7-2 win over the Hamilton Bulldogs for the first win of 2016. Following that, the Petes then doubled up, grabbing a demanding 6-1 victory over the Flint Firebirds on Jan 14. Most recently, Peterborough fell 5-2 to the Ottawa 67's on Saturday night.
On the season, the Petes have a .512 win percentage for 44 points in 43 games - good enough for a third overall standing in the East Division.
GAME NOTES
The Peterborough Petes make their lone visit to Guelph on Sunday afternoon. Guelph leads the two-game season series 1-0. The Storm have won five of their last six games while earning at least a point in nine of their last 11. Sunday will be Guelph's sixth game in 10 days. Defenseman Garrett McFadden has 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in his last 14 games.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2016
- Mangiapane Lifts Colts to Shootout Victory - North Bay Battalion
- Bulldogs Best Sarnia - Brantford Bulldogs
- Game Preview: Storm Push for Four Straight - Guelph Storm
- Team Effort Scores 67's Big Win on the Road - Ottawa 67's
- Sting Fall 3-2 - Sarnia Sting
- Otters walloped 8-0 by Owen Sound - Erie Otters
- IceDogs Fall to Kingston in 2-1 Shootout Loss - Niagara IceDogs
- Attack Crush Otters on Saturday Evening - Owen Sound Attack
- Rangers on the Offensive in 7-4 Win over Spirit - Kitchener Rangers
- Spirit Stifled by Rangers in 7-4 Loss - Saginaw Spirit
- Rangers Rally, Top Steelheads 5-3 - Brampton Steelheads
- Spirit Welcome Rangers on Saturday Night - Saginaw Spirit
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