Storm down Highway 7 rivals in Saturday showdown

Matthew Poitras led the Guelph Storm to a 5-3 victory over their Highway 7 rivals, the Kitchener Rangers on Saturday evening at the Sleeman Centre.

Poitras opened the scoring early in the first period with a one-timer on a feed from Danny Zhilkin. Just 1:31 later, Poitras picked up an assist on a pass to Max Namestnikov, who scored his second goal in as many games with the Storm.

Later in the first, it was Jake Karabela who cashed in on a power play opportunity with a back-handed shot that went over the glove-side shoulder of Rangers goaltender Marco Costantini.

Matthew Sop got the Rangers on the board early in the second period, but Guelph responded with a goal of their own just 21 seconds later. It was Poitras again, as he potted what would stand as the game-winner with his second goal of the game off the face-off to the right of Costantini.

Guelph’s first-round pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selction, Cam Allen fired a shot from the point for his second goal of the season and the fifth Storm tally of the night. With 8:06 remaining in the second period Guelph held a 5-1 lead and never looked back.

The Rangers added a pair of tallies late in the third period when Jesse Fishman and Carson Rehkopf each netted a goal, but it was too little, too late for Kitchener.

With a four point effort in the game, Poitras leads the Storm in points with 23 this season and 11 in his past four games.

“The puck just seems to be finding my stick, my linemates are finding me and everything seems to be going the right way,” said the Boston Bruins 2022 second-round draft pick, post-game.

“We just did the right things, chipped pucks when we needed to, didn’t turn the puck over too much . . . That’s what we need to maintain this success.”

Next Up 

The Storm will be back in action at the Sleeman Centre when the Owen Sound Attack come to on Friday, November 25 at 7:30 pm for the first of back-to-back meetings between the teams next weekend. After that, they’ll head to Owen Sound for a Saturday night showdown at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre.

Game Notes

Kitchener Rangers 3 at Guelph Storm 5 – Status: Final
Saturday, November 19, 2022 – Sleeman Centre

Kitchener 0 1 2 – 3
Guelph 3 2 0 – 5

1st Period-1, Guelph, Poitras 5 (Zhilkin, Robinson), 4:34. 2, Guelph, Namestnikov 7 (Poitras), 6:05. 3, Guelph, Karabela 5 (Poitras), 15:50 (PP). Penalties-McFarlane Gue (high sticking), 1:58; Pinelli Kit (misc-mouth guard), 2:07; Hollett Kit (tripping), 11:49; Andonovski Kit (high sticking), 12:34; Joseph Serpa Kit (interference), 14:52.

2nd Period-4, Kitchener, Sop 4 (Andonovski), 2:20. 5, Guelph, Poitras 6 (Namestnikov), 2:39. 6, Guelph, Allen 2 (McKenzie, Walker), 11:54. Penalties-Zhilkin Gue (misc-mouth guard), 2:37; Morey Kit (inter. on goaltender), 6:32; Zhugin Gue (roughing), 6:32; Zhugin Gue (inter. on goaltender), 18:51; Reid Valade Kit (interference), 19:48.

3rd Period-7, Kitchener, Fishman 3 (Morey, Andonovski), 13:27. 8, Kitchener, Rehkopf 7 (Mešár, Hamara), 19:44 (PP). Penalties-Swick Kit (interference), 4:58; Buchinger Gue (holding), 10:42; Poitras Gue (tripping), 15:15; Poitras Gue (inter. on goaltender), 17:56.

Shots on Goal-Kitchener 3-6-11-20. Guelph 15-8-6-29.
Power Play Opportunities-Kitchener 1 / 5; Guelph 1 / 5.
Goalies-Kitchener, Costantini 7-6-0-0 (21 shots-17 saves); Vandenberg 1-1-0-0 (8 shots-7 saves). Guelph, Oster 4-8-2-0 (20 shots-17 saves).
A-4,736
Referees-Scott Ferguson (35), Brendan Schreider (11).
Linesmen-Will Dykeman (53), Kevin Hastings (61).