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OHL Guelph Storm

Storm Snap Skid, Down Firebirds

March 19, 2016 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Guelph Storm News Release


The Guelph Storm put an end to a 12-game losing skid on Saturday night, defeating the Flint Firebirds in a 5-3 final.

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com ---

The Guelph Storm wanted this one.

Visiting the Flint Firebirds on Saturday night, the Storm took a 12-game losing skid into the contest. With the teams staying close for the majority of the contest, the score was locked up at three heading into the final period. Two third period tallies, starting with first star Garrett McFadden grabbing the game winner, gave the Storm the 5-3 victory. McFadden had two points on the night, adding a helper.

Givani Smith was also a notable for the Storm, scoring a goal for third star recognition.

Between the pipes, Michael Giugovaz was nothing but solid, coming up with several big saves to give his team the chance at two points. The overage netminder turned aside 34 of 37 shots faced for the win.

At the other end of the ice, Kyle Keyser stopped 35 shots for the Firebirds.

The Firebirds got on the board first as Nicholas Caamano opened the scoring 12:14 into the first period. The sophomore put the puck on net, grabbing his 20th of the campaign with a fluttering shot over Giugovaz's right shoulder.

Nearing the end of the opening frame, the Firebirds got into some penalty trouble as Ryan Moore was sent to the box for slashing (with an added 10 minute misconduct), only to have Francesco Vilardi folow with a holding the opposition stick minor 46 seconds later, giving the Storm a five-on-three advantage.

With 15 seconds remaining in the period, the Storm capitalized on the advantage, tying the game up at one. McFadden, on the point, fed the puck to Luke Burghardt on the wing who put a quick shot on net. Smith, providing the screen in front, grabbed his 23rd of the season with the tip in.

Special teams continued to be a factor for the Storm in the second, although, with the penalty kill unit doing some damage to start the middle frame.

With Noah Carroll given a two-minute minor for holding 1:56 into the period, the Storm went to work on the offensive as Marc Stevens and Nicolas Sicoly were off to the races on the rush. Pocketing his eighth of the season with the tap in, Sicoly gave the Storm the go-ahead tally at 2:20 into the frame, with Stevens earning the helper on the play.

Responding 3:10 later, the Firebirds struck back, tying the game up at two-a-piece as Alex Di Carlo took advantage of a screened Giugovaz, scoring his second of the season.

At the 8:32 point of the second, the Storm added another power play marker with Will Bitten in the box for roughing. The visitors took hold of the lead once again as Jake Bricknell pocketed his 11th of the campaign with a wraparound tally, making it a 3-2 score.

The game of catch-up wouldn't end there though, with the Firebirds responding again. With 5:55 remaining in the period, Ryan Moore locked up the score at threes, jumping on a Storm turnover for an unassisted marker.

Closing out the second, Giugovaz came up with back-to-back pad saves to keep the game tied up on the board, including a cross-crease stretch to kick out the pad and deny Vilardi on the rush.

Taking control of the final period, the Storm netted two third period goals to earn the win.

First, with Samuel Duchesne sent to the box for holding at 6:51, McFadden grabbed his second point of the night with the unassisted, game-winning goal, putting a quick wrister on goal to beat Keyser, making it a 4-3 contest at the 8:44 point of the frame.

Captain C.J. Garcia added the insurance marker later in the period, scoring his fifth of the season by picking up the rebound with 7:14 remaining in the game.

Snapping a 12-game skid with a 5-3 final, the Storm now travel to Sault Ste. Marie to close out the 2015-16 campaign against the Greyhounds on Sunday afternoon.

GAME NOTES

The Storm and the Firebirds met for the fourth and final time on Saturday night.

Guelph won the season series with Flint, 3-1.

Luke Burghardt extended his point streak to six games with an assist on Givani Smith's first period goal, registering three goals and three assists in the stretch.

The Storm conclude the 2015-16 season in Sault Ste. Marie on Sunday afternoon, visiting the Greyhounds for a 2:07pm start.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 19, 2016


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