Max Namestinikov says he's used to slow starts. So the Guelph Storm overage winger wasn't too worried about going scoreless in his first three games of this season.
Coach Cory Stillman wasn't too worried either. Knowing Namestinikov was getting lots of scoring chances was proof enough that eventually the goals were going to start coming.
They finally did, and at just the right moment, Friday against the Peterborough Petes.
Just past the midway mark of the third period with Guelph clinging to a 3-2 lead and the momentum having shifted in the Petes favour after rallying from a 3-0 deficit, Namestnikov stepped out of the corner, and from a sharp angle roofed a wrist shot just under the crossbar to make it 4-2.
It proved to be the winning goal, with Guelph (3-2) skating to a 6-3 victory over the winless Petes (0-6).
"I tend to always get off to kind of a dry start, so it's nice getting a goal and an assist and getting the win too," said Namestnikov.
As for playing with some jump and spark all night, he said he tries to bring that every night, no matter if the pucks are going in or not.
Namestinikov's winner was a pure goalscorer's goal and he said he learned from a chance he had earlier in the game.
"I had the same chance earlier in the game where I tried to go across the net, so I knew that short side was open," he said. "I kind of got lucky that the same scenario happened and I knew where I was going with it."
Stillman said as long as a player is getting chances you know eventually the goals will come for a proven goal scorer like Namestnikov.
"Max hadn't scored, but in the last three or four games he's had chances," the Storm coach said. "You worry when you aren't getting chances, but he's been getting his opportunities and tonight he scored a big goal.
"As long as he's contributing to our winning ways, which he has been doing, all the way through practice."
The locals led 3-0 before the game's halfway point on goals by Ryan McGuire, Sam Johnston (his first in the OHL) and Alex McLean.
But the Petes fought back, twice making it a one-goal game before the Storm finally got some breathing room with two goals late in the third by Charlie Paquette (on the power play) and Hunter McKenzie (into an empty net).
Stillman appreciated the effort, which included Guelph firing 46 shots at Petes goaltender Zach Bowen, but wasn't too thrilled with the seven power plays his team surrendered.
"We took too many penalties. Against a team that's high scoring, that would have cost us," said Stillman, with the Petes scoring once on those seven chances.
"It's great to win, but on the other side, we're shooting ourselves in the foot with the amount of penalties we're taking."
Guelph lost defenceman Quinn Beauchesne with a lower body injury in the second period after taking a hit along the boards near centre ice. He was helped off the ice, not putting any weight on his left leg and didn't return.
The Storm was already without overage forward Jake Karabela for the second straight game. He took a stick to the mouth last Friday against Sault Ste. Marie.
Guelph plays in London at 4 p.m. Saturday.
