Bertuzzi, Fabbri shine in win over Spirit

October 19, 2014

Guelph, ON –

In just his second game back in the Storm lineup, Robby Fabbri had his game-breaking abilities on full display at the Sleeman Centre on Sunday afternoon. 

Fabbri broke a third period tie with his second goal of the game, and Tyler Bertuzzi registered a goal and three assists as the Storm edged the Saginaw Spirit 5-3.

 The Storm (6-2-0-0) improved their home record to 4-1 with the win in a game that featured breakout performances from a couple of rookie defensemen.  Austin Hall’s first OHL goal was the insurance marker in the third period, while Noah Carroll registered two assists and was a solid presence all afternoon on the Storm blueline.

Despite playing at home Saturday night, the Spirit showed no signs of road weariness early in the game.  The Spirit’s top line of Nick Moutrey, Dylan Sadowy and Jimmy Lodge was buzzing early, with Storm netminder Justin Nichols answering the call with some outstanding saves. 

The Spirit finally got on the board at 16:04 on an outstanding individual effort from Moutrey, who collected a loose puck and went forehand-backhand on a deke from in tight.

With the Storm in danger of heading to the intermission down 1-0, red-hot Tyler Bertuzzi took matters in to his own hands by roofing a shot from the top of the right-wing circle, beating Jake Paterson over the shoulder to tie the game.

The Spirit once again came out with some jump in the second period, with Artem Artemov converting a pass from Luke Cairns just over a minute into the frame.  With the Spirit threatening to increase their lead on the power-play, Robby Fabbri pounced on a loose puck and turned on the jets to create a breakaway, and made no mistake on burying his backhand deke to tie the game. 

The team’s traded power-play goals late in the second period, with Artemov scoring his second of the night to make it 3-2 Spirit before Guelph native Stephen Pierog tied the game at three with just 1:03 left in the period.

The final frame looked ominous to start, with the Storm in the box twice in the first five minutes of the period.  At 9:02, Robby Fabbri took a crisp pass from Tyler Bertuzzi and executed a toe-drag at full speed, followed by a snap shot that put the Storm ahead for good.  

Hall’s goal four just over four minutes later provided the padding and sent fans home with five free chicken wings for the first time in this young 2014-15 season.

The Storm hit the road on Tuesday for their second of eight games v. the Kitchener Rangers this season.  The Rangers topped the Storm 6-5 on Oct. 14 to open the Highway 7 Rivalry season series.

GAME NOTES:

•           Noah Carroll’s two assists Sunday mark the young defenseman’s first multi-point game in the OHL
•    Bertuzzi extended his point streak to five games.  He leads the team with 11 points in eight games.
•   Fabbri has now scored in both games since returning from the St. Louis Blues
• The Storm have won four straight games at home after dropping the home opener on Sept. 26 v. Belleville
• Justin Nichols has won five straight starts since his loss in that same home opener.
•    Phil Baltisberger recorded an assist with his family in attendance, whom are visiting from Switzerland.
•    Garrett McFadden is already halfway to his point total from his rookie season, with four points in just eight games.  Last season , he tallied eight points in 42 games.
• The Storm held their first of two “Skate with the Storm” events after today’s game.