Guelph holds off late Whalers' run
BY PETE KRUPSKY
Feb. 28, 2010,
10:15 a.m.
Peter Holland’s goal at 0:30 of the third period stood as
the game-winner as Guelph Storm defeated the Plymouth Whalers, 3-2, in
an Ontario Hockey League game played Saturday night before 2,962 at
Compuware Arena.
Plymouth and Guelph are both battling for playoff positioning in the tight Western Conference race. Plymouth remains in fourth place in the Western Conference with a record of 36-24-0-2. Guelph won their third straight game and remains in the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference playoff race with a record of 29-28-3-1.
Adam Comrie (13) and Taylor Beck (32) scored the other Guelph goals, while Tyler Brown (12) and Ryan Hayes (16) replied for Plymouth.
Guelph goaltender Brandon Foote – playing in his 22nd consecutive game – emerged as the game’s first star, stopping 42-of-44 Plymouth shots.
Plymouth took at 1-0 lead at 4:16 of the first period when Brown won a faceoff in the Guelph zone and finished the play, tipping Colin MacDonald’s low shot from the left wing past Foote. Comrie tied the game at 1-1 at 16:20, tucking a shot from the lower rim of the right circle under the Plymouth cross bar past Whalers goaltender Matt Hackett.
Guelph took their first lead of the game at 10:52 of the second period. Beck – Guelph’s leading scorer with 80 points – scored from the left circle just inside the left post past Hackett with Cody MacNaughton screening. Guelph led, 2-1, after forty minutes.
The Storm took a 3-1 lead on Holland’s goal in tight on the right wing at 0:30 of the period. Holland took a back hand shot that Hackett got a piece of, but the puck trickled over the line.
Plymouth came back immediately at 1:22 to cut the Guelph lead to 3-2 when Hayes tapped a second rebound just outside the Guelph blue crease past Foote. Robbie Czarnik and Austin Levi drew assists on the play.
The Whalers pressured the entire third period, outshooting the Storm, 12-3, but could not gain the equalizer. Hackett was pulled in the final minute of play, but Guelph held on for the victory.
Plymouth outshot Guelph, 44-22.
Plymouth is back in action Tuesday morning in Saginaw in the Spirit’s annual Education Day Special at the Dow Event Center, starting at 10:45am. The game can be heard on 88.1FM WSDP starting at 10:30am.
Plymouth is back home next Friday against Sault Ste. Marie and next Saturday against Saginaw at Compuware Arena. Both games start at 7:05pm.
For information on Whalers ticket packages, including the Bob
Evans' Great Save 4 for $44 Pack, or to plan a group event, visit plymouthwhalers.com or call 734-453-8400.
