Credit to the Guelph Storm.
Anytime the team has battled the Kitchener Rangers, the compete level has jumped up a notch this year.
But after yet another defeat – this time 4-3 in overtime after giving up a third period lead Sunday afternoon – Guelph is left counting another point they’ve let slip away, points that will come in handy in the chase for a playoff spot.
“A good 60 minutes of hockey,” said Storm assistant coach Scott Simmonds. “They’re obviously a good team, so we wanted to come out hard and come out strong in the first period. I thought we did that tonight, and we kept building our game and showed some bounce back. It was a close one, but ultimately didn’t get the job done.”
For the most part, it was a competitive game, a physical game which featured two fights, as to be expected between the two rivals.
But mistakes reared their ugly head at the worst times for what is now the youngest team in the OHL.
A mistake at the Kitchener blue line turned into a shorthanded goal for the Rangers to open the scoring in the first, as Luke Ellinas finished a two-on-zero breakaway from the red line.
And after the Storm got back into it – scoring twice in 15 seconds early in the third to take the lead – Max Namestnikov’s clearing attempt went right onto the stick of Cameron Mercer, who made no mistake to tie the game.
“In the first period, we had some mistakes and gave them some opportunities, and I think we did a good job dialing back from that,” said Jett Luchanko, who was held off the scoresheet in his first game action since representing Canada at the World Juniors.
“They’re a good team, so to be able to force them to OT, we have to take the positive from that.”
Namestnikov scored a pair of goals in the loss. Charlie Paquette had the other Guelph goal.
Trent Swick scored in regulation for Kitchener. Luca Romano scored the winner 95 seconds into extra time on what was essentially a two-on-one.
Kitchener has now won all five head-to-head match-ups this season.
Three have gone to extra time and every game was decided by one goal – well, one was a two-goal game with an empty netter.
It’s the fourth loss in five games for Guelph since returning from the break.
And with what’s to come over the next few days, the look of this team could be quite different by the time the clock strikes noon on Friday.No matter the look, the coaching staff is preaching structure over everything and hoping things go the right way for the final 31 games.
“It’s really important for us to stick to our structure, learning to play within that game and within the way we want to play is going to be good for us in the long run,” Simmonds said.
“No excuses, we want to compete now and we think that we have a team that can do that.
“I think we have a team that can make the playoffs.”
Guelph is six points back of the Soo Greyhounds for the final playoff spot in the West, with the same number of games played.
The seventh place Sarnia Sting – who the Storm have yet to play this season – are nine points ahead but Guelph has three games in hand.
But it’s what you do with those games in hand that count. And while credit can be due for a hard fought battle, points aren’t awarded for effort alone.
Guelph will try again to close the gap, hosting Erie for a rare Wednesday battle at 6:37 p.m.
