Oh boy did they need that.
Reeling from four straight losses, the Guelph Storm turned in what was likely its most complete game of the season Friday night, downing the second-place Windsor Spitfires 6-2 at the Sleeman Centre.
Brayden Gillespie turned in his best performance in a while with a 41-save performance in the Storm net and Vilmer Alriksson was a force all night, leading the way with two goals.
"Ecstatic. I don't think words can describe how happy I am right now," said a beaming Gillespie.
"I felt back to my old self. It's awesome. Now just keep on building from there."
Sitting in last place in the Western Conference and on a losing streak, Gillespie knew the team needed him.
"They have my back all the time too so it was just time to give back to them and just help them out whenever I could.
Gillespie said the key is to get some confidence, build on it "and climb up the standings."
The Storm, 24 points behind the Spitfires in the standings, led 2-1 after the first period and 3-2 after two. rather than falter in the third, they did the opposite, playing an exceptional 20 minutes with three unanswered goals, the last one coming into an empty net.
They also did yeoman's work killing penalties, including a 54 second two-man shorthanded situation late in the game ahead by a pair of goals.
Windsor, who came into the game with the third-best power play in the league, went 0-for-6 with the man advantage.
"We needed that best third period because we took a couple of penalties. But we killed them off and just gained momentum from there," Gillespie said.
In addition to Alriksson's pair of goals, Guelph got markers from Carter Stevens to open the scoring, and third-period goals from Quinn Beauchesne, Tommy Budnick and Alex McLean.
Cole Davis and Noah Morneau had the Windsor goals. Carter Froggett faced 26 shots in the Windsor net.
Alriksson agreed it was the team's best third period of the season thus far.
"I agree. Just try and keep it simple in a close game and get the win," the Vancouver Canucks property said. "Get some confidence and hope to build on it."
The game was a physical affair at times, something Alriksson said he responds to.
"I like to play physical."
Guelph regulars Rowan Topp, Sam Johnston and Grant Spada are still out injured. Ryan McGuire was a healthy scratch as the extra overager.
The Storm hosts the Kitchener Rangers Sunday at 2 p.m.
