What a difference a day makes.
Less than 24 hours after turning in a lacklustre effort during a 6-3 road loss to the Sarnia Sting, the Guelph Storm responded with perhaps its best game of the season Sunday afternoon at the Sleeman Centre, a 3-2 overtime win over the London Knights.
Nate Schnarr did the honours, scoring a power play goal 21 seconds into overtime to win it.
The victory puts the Storm on top of the Western Conference standings with a 6-2-1-0 record.
"We know we didn't have our best game (Saturday) night and it just speaks to the quality of team we have in the dressing room: good leadership and great guys," said Schnarr, who saw his seven-game point streak snapped on Saturday.
"Instead of letting it trail into the next day, we just flipped the page," he said. "We knew we had a top team coming into our rink and we just said let's turn it around and have a good day today."
Storm defenceman Ryan Merkley was in on all three of his team's goals, scoring once and adding two helpers.
"That was probably our best 60 minutes so far (this season)," said Merkley. "We created a lot of chances and we were solid in the defensive zone."
He said it was important to come back with a strong effort after Saturday's loss.
"6-2-1 is a lot better than 5-3-1," he said.
Coach George Burnett also praised his team's effort, noting the effort and intensity came at both ends of the ice.
The game would never have gone to overtime had it not been for London goaltender Joseph Raaymakers, who turned in a brilliant 43-save effort.
Guelph got to show off its league-leading power play in overtime after Dom Commisso was clipped by a high stick along the boards with the clock winding down.
They made short work of it in the extra time, with Merkley swinging low with the puck and sending it in front for a jam shot by Isaac Ratcliffe. Somehow the puck squirted into the slot, where Schnarr one-timed it home for his sixth goal of the year.
London had tied the game 2-2 at 7:27 of the third period on Liam Foudy's second goal of the game.
Zach Poirier had Guelph's other goal and Anthony Popovich turned in his second straight solid effort, making 24 saves.
Guelph has another three-in-three weekend coming up, playing on the road in Kitchener Friday, in Owen Sound Saturday and at home to Kitchener Sunday afternoon
