Wednesday night in Erie, the Storm surrendered the first goal against the Otters before responding with four straight over the final 40 minutes to pick up two crucial points with a 4-1 win.  The victory over Erie keeps the seventh place Otters within striking distance of the Storm.  Guelph now sits five points back of Erie with another head-to-head meeting at the Sleeman Centre on March 12th and a game in hand. 

After failing to convert on four powerplays in the first 18 minutes of the game, the hosts finally solved Brandon Foote with just seven seconds remaining in the first. After some sustained pressure in the Erie zone, Anthony Luciani and Andrew Yogan quickly countered with Luciani notching the game's first goal.  Shots on goal in the opening 20 were 11-9 in favour of Erie.

Down 1-0 entering the second, it looked like a familiar storyline for the Storm at the Tullio Arena until a pair of Taylor Beck powerplay goals turned the tide.  Beck managed the equalizer just 1:16 into the first picking up his own rebound and beating Adam Courchaine.  Just over five minutes later, Beck added the game winner finishing a give-and-go with Michael Latta to give the visitors their first lead of the night.  Late in the period, a few seconds after another Otters penalty expired, Sam Lofquist added some insurance with a long shot that handcuffed Courchaine and slid across the goal line.  Despite being outshot 12-11 in the second, it was Guelph that scored three times, while the Otters were held off the scoresheet.

In the final frame, Guelph tightened the team defence surrendering only five Erie shots and Foote did the rest to finish off a second star performance.  Just past the midway mark of the third, Erie was caught pinching with four men deep and Matt Sisca was sent away all alone where he made no mistake snapping his 31st of the season past Courchaine.  

Up three points on ninth place Owen Sound with Wednesday's win, the Storm will look to move up the standings beginning Friday night at home against the Sarnia Sting.  On Sunday afternoon, the Kitchener Rangers come to Guelph for a 2 pm start for 'Student Day' with a free post-game Skate With the Storm.  For tickets to either game, call or visit the Guelph Storm box office.

Guelph Storm 4 At Erie Otters 1 - Status: Final
Mar 3, 2010 - Tullio Arena

Guelph 0 3 1 - 4
Erie 1 0 0 - 1

1st Period-1, Erie, Luciani 34 (Yogan), 19:53. Penalties-Latta Gue (holding), 7:21; Sisca Gue (hooking), 10:24; McNaughton Gue (hooking), 11:45; Hostetter Er (diving), 13:43; Campbell Gue (high sticking), 15:49; Holden Er (check from behind), 19:52.

2nd Period-2, Guelph, Beck 34 (Latta, Sisca), 1:16 (pp). 3, Guelph, Beck 35 (Syvret, Latta), 6:35 (pp). 4, Guelph, Lofquist 4 (Comrie), 19:38. Penalties-Cazzola Er (hooking), 6:01; Gottschalk Gue (high sticking, high sticking), 10:27; Szydlowski Er (interference), 11:29; Luciani Er (high sticking), 17:25.

3rd Period-5, Guelph, Sisca 31   12:55. Penalties-Cazzola Er (high sticking), 14:56.

Shots on Goal-Guelph 9-11-8-28. Erie 11-12-5-28.
Power Play Opportunities-Guelph 2 of 6; Erie 0 of 6.
Goalies-Guelph, Foote 15-8-1-0 (28 shots-27 saves). Erie, Courchaine 19-22-1-1 (28 shots-24 saves).
A-3,158
Referees-Keith Kaval (14), Craig Spada (10).
Linesmen-Raymond King (95), Mike Harrington (90).