Guelph 4, Plymouth 1 in Game 1 of OHL Western Conference Semi-Final

Published on April 7, 2006 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP - In spite of finishing 40-24-1-3 during the regular season, it's fair to say the Guelph Storm flew under the radar during much of the Ontario Hockey League regular season.

But the Storm showed why they are a potential threat to go far in the OHL playoffs as they specialized in defeating the Plymouth Whalers, 4-1, in the opening game of the best-of-seven OHL Semi-Final playoff series played Friday night at the Compuware Sports Arena.

Guelph built a 3-0 lead after one period on two power play goals and a shorthanded effort and protected the lead the rest of the way.

Matt D'Agostini led the Guelph attack with a goal and an assist as the game's first star. Mark O'Leary also had a goal and an assist for Guelph, while Mike McLean added a shorthanded goal and Jason Pitton scored on the empty net.

Andrew Fournier scored the lone Whaler goal - his fourth of the playoffs - in the second period for Plymouth.

Ryan McDonald was solid in goal for Guelph, stopping 23 of 24 Plymouth shots as the game's third star. MacDonald lowered his league-leading goals against average in the OHL playoffs to 1.23, while raising his playoff save percentage to .951 - which also leads the OHL playoffs.

D'Agostini got the Storm rolling at 3:35 of the first period when Rafael Rotter carried the play into the Plymouth zone on the left wing and got a shot in tight that Plymouth goaltender Justin Peters got a piece of. D'Agostini scored on the rebound. After McLean scored a shorthanded goal at 9:34 (set up by O'Leary from the left wing in the Plymouth zone to McLean at the right wing), O'Leary gave Guelph a 3-0 lead at 19:40 of the period when D'Agostini carried the puck wide right wing in the Plymouth zone and found O'Leary in the slot. O'Leary - being checked by Whaler right wing Gino Pisellini - was able to direct the puck past Peters while falling to the ice.

Fournier cut the Guelph lead to 3-1 at 11:44 of the second period when he capped good Plymouth pressure in the Guelph zone. Defenseman Derek Merlini intercepted a Guelph clearing pass at the blue line and found Fournier at the top of the left circle. Fournier snapped the shot, top shelf, by MacDonald.

Plymouth continued to pressure the remainder of the game and pulled Peters after a timeout with 16.2 seconds left in the third period. But Pitton took picked up Ryan Parent's clearing pass on the left wing in the Plymouth zone and scored on the empty net with four seconds left to ice the game.

Guelph outshot Plymouth, 33-25, in the game.

Plymouth and Guelph meet in Game 2 of the series Saturday night in Guelph at 7:30 pm (www.plymouthwhalers.com, 7:20 pm). Game 3 of the series is Monday at 7:30 pm at the Compuware Sports Arena. Playoff tickets can be purchase by phone by calling the Compuware Sports Arena box office at (734) 453-8400 or by purchasing tickets at the box office Monday through Friday from 9 am to 7 pm.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Ontario Hockey League Stories from April 7, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central