A team in big need of a confidence boost got just that Wednesday night at the Sleeman Centre.
The Guelph Storm was rewarded for 60 minutes of hard work in an exciting, thrilling and emotional 5-4 win over the first place London Knights in front of 4,723 at the Sleeman Centre.
Guelph scored a pair of goals in the third period to break a 3-3 tie then got some huge saves from goaltender Brayden Gillespie to preserve the win.
It was a rewarding night for a team sorely in need of a confidence boost. It also leapfrogged them over Owen Sound and Erie into fifth place in the Western Conference.
"That's huge," said Storm defenceman Chandler Romeo. "For us to get a win here, especially against the top team in our conference.
"It's easy to have emotion at this time of the year, especially after the long rut we were in. For us to be playing good hockey, guys getting up on the bench, shot blocking and making big hits, I think this team definitely drives off emotion."
Perhaps the biggest takeaway was that when they play the game the right way, rewards follow.
"That's what Chad (Wiseman) just said in the dressing room. We deserved to win that game. We fought hard ... and we deserved the win that we got," Romeo said.
Guelph jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period before London chipped away with two unanswered goals in the second, then tying it on an Easton Cowan goal early in the third.
But Ryan McGuire made it 4-3 Guelph when he jammed one past Michael Simpson at the side of the net then Leo Serlin snapped a 24-game scoreless drought to make it 5-3, taking advantage of a sloppy turnover by the London defence before firing it past a surprised Simpson.
Cowan's second goal with 6:04 remaining in the third set up a thrilling finish, but Gillespie answered the bell to preserve the victory.
Gillespie finished with 43 saves on the night.
"Our attention to detail ... we made hard plays at the right time ... our willingness to sacrifice and block shots was fantastic," Storm coach Wiseman said.
"Any time you beat a team that's top of your conference and knowing you can beat that team with the playoffs around the corner, it's a huge confidence builder for us," Wiseman said.
"There's a good message in that: When you are going to play the right way you get an opportunity every night to compete and win hockey games."
Gavin Grundner returned to the lineup for Guelph and Parker Snelgrove is expected to be available this weekend.
Storm defenceman Tommy Budnick received a match penalty after the final buzzer for a gloved punch to the face of London's Kasper Haltunnen. He faces a likely suspension.
Guelph hits the road this weekend for games in Sault Ste. Marie Friday night and Saginaw Saturday night.
