Eight goals. Nearly 60 shots on net. Mini-donnybrook. Big win over a top team.
Who are these guys?
The Guelph Storm, who couldn't buy a goal two weeks ago, have now scored 26 goals in their last four games, the latest an eight-goal outburst in an 8-5 win over the Niagara IceDogs Friday at the Sleeman Centre.
Guelph put a season-high 59 shots on the Niagara net in a game that saw seven different players score in the team's third win in its last four games.
Friday's shootout was tied 1-1 after one period and 4-4 after two before Guelph outscored the IceDogs 4-1 in the third.
"A high scoring game. Not sure that's part of the plan, but as long as we're winning those games we're happy," said Jett Luchanko, who had two goals and an assist on the night.
"It spreads positive energy when a goal goes in ... we're just figuring it out and it starts in practice. We're finding our stride and hopefully we can keep going like that," Luchanko said.
Guelph opened the scoring in the first minute of play for the second straight game when a shot went in off Luchanko's body just 47 seconds into the game.
What proved to be the game winner was Luchanko's second of the game at the second minute mark of the third, a wide-open net opportunity that came after a shot hit teammate Vilmer Alriksson and deflected straight to Luchanko.
Hunter McKenzie, Leo Serlin, Wil McFadden, Daniil Skvortsov, Cam Allen and Max Namestnikov also scored for the Storm. Alriksson had four assists.
"We know (Niagara) is a high powered team. They can score goals and they want to score goals. I think at times we let them back into the game, but again, as long as we score more goals than them and it's entertaining here on a Friday night," said Storm coach Cory Stillman.
He said it's too early to tell if the team has turned the corner, but they're getting healthy and they're getting better.
"I still think there's more stuff to come from our hockey club."
The game also featured a mini donnybrook with just over five minutes remaining. Some rough stuff escalated when Guelph's Grant Spada went after Niagara import winger Andrei Loshko. That led to the IceDogs Kevin He and others jumping in.
He was given a game misconduct for third man in and goaltender Owen Flores also got the boot for leaving the crease to join the action.
"We know we've got each other's back and we'll stand up for each other. We're a tight knit group," Luchanko said of the rough stuff.
Stillman was happy to see his team stand up for one another, in particular when he felt Niagara was trying to take some liberties with Luchanko.
"You want to see a team game and you want to see team toughness," the Storm coach said. "Tonight, when push came to shove and guys were on Jett, we had guys jump in and I give them credit for that."
Guelph host the London Knights Saturday at 4 p.m.
