ERIE, PA. - The Guelph Storm failed to capitalize on what should have been a golden opportunity to keep pace in the Western Conference standings Sunday.
Guelph managed just 21 shots on goal in a 5-4 loss to the lowly Erie Otters.
Guelph trailed 2-0 after one period and 3-0 early in the third before waking up, with James McEwan scoring on a breakaway to make it 3-1 after two periods.
Nate Schnarr made it 3-2 on the power play early in the third period, but 19 seconds later Erie’s Ivan Lodnia beat Storm goaltender Anthony Popovich with an against-the-grain wrister to the top corner.
Alexey Toropchenko again made it a one-goal game midway through the third, but a long slap shot by Owen Headrick from a sharp angle scored what proved to be the eventual game-winning goal at 12:50 of the third period.
Dmitri Samorukov’s power play goal made it 5-4 with 3:41 left in the third, but the Storm couldn’t tie the game with the goaltender pulled.
Erie outshot Guelph 43-21.
The same two teams play Monday at the Sleeman Centre starting at 2 p.m.