Feb 21, 2013 | dturner | 874 views
Storm Fall to Lakers in Wallacebug
The Storm travelled south down Hwy. 40 to face off against the Wallaceburg Lakers, for the first of two matches between the teams during round robin play. The Lakers would get the early lead, just two minutes into the 1st period, and would not relinquish it for the remainder of the game, as they went on to win by a final score of 4-1. The game remained close for the first two periods as the Storm only trailed by that one goal going into the final frame, but unfortunately the Storm were unable to get that crucial equalizer and gain the momentum needed to take over the game. Colin Gladwish tended the pipes for the Storm and the lone goal was provided by Parker McKegan.
The Lakers opened up the scoring, as they netted a goal off of a goal-mouth scramble, putting the home team up by a score of 1-0, just two minutes into the 1st period. Not long after, Hunter Seguin had a couple of chances to even the score, as he banged away at the puck from the side of the net, but couldn't squeak one through. The 1st period would end with just the one goal scored, as chances were hard to come by as both teams' defenders did well keeping the pucks to the outside.
Early in the 2nd period, the Lakers were given the first penalty of the game, as Walker Holmes was tripped up in the neutral zone. The Storm PP unit was unable to muster up much offense and the team remained down by one goal. Shortly after, the refs would even up the penalties, as the Storm were assessed a minor for body contact. The Lakers' PP was short-lived, as they were given another penalty for tripping, when Evan Turner was upended while clearing the zone. After a brief stint of some 4-on-4 play, the Storm went on an abbreviated PP, but could not convert, as they went into the final frame still down by a score of 1-0.
Jake Booth narrowly missed getting that crucial tying goal, as his shot from long distance got under the pad of the opposing netminder, but did not have enough steam to make it over the goal line. Not long after, the Lakers would extend their lead, as they scored after a face-off win deep in Storm territory-Colin Gladwish made a beauty kick save off the initial shot, but the rebound was picked up by the Laker forward at the top of the crease and fired home to up the score to 2-0. Wallaceburg deepened the hole that the Storm found themselves in, as they went up 3-0 when a Laker forward was allowed to walk out from the corner and buried one high glove-side. The Storm finally got on the board, midway through the 3rd period, as Parker McKegan capitalized on a Lakers' giveaway deep in their own end, bridging the gap to 3-1. The Storm seemed to gather a bit of momentum from the goal, as evidence through Masen Flett's legs, as he broke through three defenders to get a shot on net that just hit the outside of the goal post and stayed out. All was not lost, however, as Flett was hauled down on the play, and the Storm would get another chance to score on the PP. The PP did not work out as the Storm would have planned, as it was the Lakers that scored a SH goal off a shot from another face-off win deep in Storm territory. The Storm would get another chance to get back in the game, as they found themselves on a lengthy 5-on-3 PP, with five minutes to go, but were unable to garner much offensively, and would end up losing by a final score of 4-1.
The Storm continue with their round robin play and look to find their "range", as they stay on the road, travelling to Belmont for a Saturday matinee.