Storm drop finale in OT versus Otters

Saturday night in Erie, the Storm wrapped up their regular season schedule with a 5-4 overtime loss versus the Erie Otters.  The overtime loss gives Guelph 84 points for the year, tying 2005-06 for their highest point total since 2003-04 when they won the OHL Championship.

With fifth spot locked up and a first round date against the Kitchener Rangers on the horizon, the Storm rested first string goalie Garret Sparks, forward Jason Dickinson and blueliner Andrey Pedan with Matt Finn, Robby Fabbri and Brody Milne on the shelf due to injuries.  

After building a 3-0 lead early in the second period on Tyler Bertuzzi’s 13th of the season, the Storm surrendered five of the next six tallies including the overtime winner by Jimmy McDowell with 12 seconds left to play in overtime.

Scott Kosmachuk scored his team leading 35th of the season and added a pair of assists to clinch the scoring title for Guelph.  The third round pick of the Winnipeg Jets finished with career highs in goals, assists and points in his third campaign.

Michael Nishi made his first start for the Storm and was solid in the loss giving up five goals on 44 shots including 34 in the second and third periods combined.

Rounding out the scoring for the visitors were Patrick Watling and Zach Leslie, each with their 12th goals of the season.

The Storm will now prepare for their Western Conference Quarterfinal series against their Highway 7 rivals.  The best-of-seven gets underway on Friday night in Kitchener with Game Two on Sunday evening.  Games Three and Four return to the Sleeman Centre on Tuesday, March 26th and Thursday, March 28th.

Guelph Storm 4 at Erie Otters 5 (OT) – Status: End of Game
Saturday, March 16, 2013 – Erie Insurance Arena

Guelph 2 1 1 0 – 4
Erie 0 1 3 1 – 5

1st Period-1, Guelph, Watling 12 (Poliziani, McNaughton), 3:49. 2, Guelph, Kosmachuk 35 (McGinn, Posa), 12:41. Penalties-Pelech Er (high sticking), 0:23.

2nd Period-3, Guelph, Bertuzzi 13 (Auger, Kosmachuk), 6:29 (PP). 4, Erie, Pelech 8 (Harper, McDavid), 7:41 (PP). Penalties-Donnay Er (hooking), 5:30; Watling Gue (tripping), 7:36; Donnay Er (interference), 19:04.

3rd Period-5, Erie, Brown 27 (Harper, McDavid), 8:13 (PP). 6, Guelph, Leslie 12 (Kosmachuk), 12:33. 7, Erie, Fox 19   15:41. 8, Erie, Brown 28 (Betz, McDavid), 19:59. Penalties-Richard Gue (slashing), 0:43; served by Fox Er (too many men), 2:53; Garlent Gue (slashing), 3:34; Crisp Er (inter. on goaltender), 3:34; Beukeboom Gue (butt end hooking), 7:12.

OT Period-9, Erie, McDowell 14 (Pelech, McDavid), 4:48 (PP). Penalties-Posa Gue (delay of game), 4:31.

Shots on Goal-Guelph 8-12-8-1-29. Erie 9-18-16-2-45.
Power Play Opportunities-Guelph 1 / 4; Erie 3 / 4.
Goalies-Guelph, Nishi 0-0-0-0 (45 shots-40 saves). Erie, Dansk 10-23-3-3 (29 shots-25 saves).
A-4,608
Referees-Seth Ferguson (39), Dave Koziel (8).
Linesmen-Mike Hamilton (86), Jesse Wilmot (72).