Playing their third game in less than 48 hours on their eastern Ontario trip, the Storm picked up their second straight win, knocking off the East Division leading Ottawa 67's 4-3 on Sunday afternoon.  The win moves Guelph four points back of the Owen Sound Attack for the final playoff spot with the Storm holding three  games in hand.

After falling behind 1-0 less than two minutes into the contest, the visitors would respond with three straight goals and jumping out to a lead that they wouldn't surrender.  Former Guelph blueliner Travis Gibbons opened the scoring for Ottawa on their first shot with an attempt that hit a skate and skipped past Brandon Foote in the Guelph net.  Foote would actually leave the game moments later with what looked like a hand injury and Junior B call-up Drew Pegrum would see 53 seconds of action before the Storm starter returned.  Guelph picked up three straight powerplay opportunities and four in the first period sandwiching a pair of goals on the man advantage around an even strength marker.  Adam Comrie with his first of two in the period tied the game at one taking a Peter Holland feed on a five-on-three and firing over Petr Mrazek at 5:07.  The Storm grabbed their first lead of the afternoon before the mid-way point of the opening 20 on Taylor Beck's 29th of the year.  Matt Sisca would set up the go ahead tally, circling the Ottawa net and when his pass hit an Ottawa skate it sat in the blue paint for an easy goal by the Storm's leading scorer.  With two minutes to play in the first, Comrie notched his second powerplay goal from Beck and Conor O'Donnell before the 67's Andrew Merrett replied 20 seconds later to make it 3-2 Guelph after one period of play.  Shots on goal in the first were 37-26 in favour of the home side.

The pace slowed in the second with each team scoring once.  The Storm would have another powerplay opportunity, before two straight for the 67's over the final two frames. The Guelph penalty kill which has struggled for much of the season was the difference on the afternoon shutting out the Ottawa powerplay.  Just over three minutes into the second, Connor Tresham (pictured) scored his third of the season to stake Guelph to a 4-2 lead.  The eventual game winning goal was a backhand finish on his own rebound after a nice give and go with Michael Latta inside the Ottawa blueline.  Much like the first period, the Storm's two-goal lead was short lived.  This time it was Thomas Nesbitt creating a turnover deep in the Guelph zone and skating the puck out from the corner where he dished to Shane Prince for a one-timer past Foote.

With over half the game left to play, a fatigued Storm team held a slight one goal bulge.  The 67's outshot Guelph 22-15 in the last two periods combined, but making his 13th straight start, Foote was terrific again preserving the win.  For the second straight game, the Storm looked like they allowed a  tying goal in the final minute, but like Saturday night in Belleville, the goal was waved off.  Former Storm winger Anthony Nigro thought he managed the equalizer sliding a loose puck under Foote, but a quick whistle saved the visitors as they held on for a 4-3 victory.

Next week is another busy one for the Storm beginning Wednesday night at the Sleeman Centre for a 7 pm game against Tyler Seguin (ranked #2 for the upcoming NHL Draft) and the Plymouth Whalers.  Wednesday night's game is the last 'Wecession Wednesday' for the Storm with all regular priced lower bowl tickets just $5.00.  Friday night, the Sarnia Sting come to the Sleeman Centre, before a Saturday night date in Owen Sound.  Monday afternoon at 2 pm, it's the Storm's annual Family Day holiday game when the London Knights come to town.  For tickets to any of the three games, call or visit the Storm box office or buy online at GuelphStorm.com. 

Guelph Storm 4 At Ottawa 67's 3 - Status: Final
Feb 7, 2010 - Urbandale Centre

Guelph 3 1 0 - 4
Ottawa 2 1 0 - 3

1st Period-1, Ottawa, Gibbons 6 (Demers), 1:47. 2, Guelph, Comrie 10 (Holland, Lofquist), 5:07 (pp). 3, Guelph, Beck 29 (Sisca, Sandlak), 9:47. 4, Guelph, Comrie 11 (Beck, O'Donnell), 18:06 (pp). 5, Ottawa, Merrett 4 (Smith, Cuma), 18:26. Penalties-Toffoli Ott (tripping), 3:12; Cuma Ott (holding), 4:45; Zanetti Ott (interference), 11:22; Holland Gue (interference), 15:33; Nigro Ott (tripping), 16:23.

2nd Period-6, Guelph, Tresham 3 (Latta, Gottschalk), 3:21. 7, Ottawa, Prince 10 (Nesbitt), 5:23. Penalties-Toffoli Ott (holding opp. stick), 10:50; O'Donnell Gue (hooking), 14:07; Latta Gue (inter. on goaltender), 16:04.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Comrie Gue (10-min. misc.), 18:51; Carroll Gue (interference), 20:00.

Shots on Goal-Guelph 11-10-5-26. Ottawa 15-12-10-37.
Power Play Opportunities-Guelph 2 of 5; Ottawa 0 of 4.
Goalies-Guelph, Foote 8-4-1-0 (37 shots-34 saves); Pegrum 0-0-0-0 (0 shots-0 saves). Ottawa, Mrazek 8-8-0-1 (11 shots-8 saves); Perugini 19-11-4-2 (15 shots-14 saves).
A-5,887
Referees-Joel Washkurak (30), Dave Lewis (16).
Linesmen-Jordan Browne (93), Mark Bradley (51).