Guelph was hoping to taste sweet revenge tonight (Oct.15) after Western put them out of the playoffs last season, but couldn't hold off the Mustangs as they came back to take the 4-3 victory. The loss sets the Gryphons back to 1-2-0, while Western claims their first win of the season.
Western's Keaton Turkiewicz scored the game-tying goal in the second period and added the game-winner in the third.
After getting a night off last week (Oct.9) against Laurier, Matt Smith (Waterloo, Ont.) was back between the pipes for the Gryphons. Smith made 12 saves in the game including an unbelievable kick-save near the end of the first period.
Guelph was disappointed by another early game goal in the first period after the rebound from a hard shot was banged in by Western. As per usual, Guelph didn't hesitate to respond. Two minutes later, while on the penalty kill, Jake Lalonde (Sudbury, Ont.) pressured a Western defensemen into giving up the puck in the Western end. Lalonde gained possession, slid the puck over to Thomas Kiriakou (Richmond Hill, Ont.), who ripped the shorthanded goal top corner for his fifth of the season.
The Gryphons picked up their second of the night after a bone-crushing hit on the Western blue line that left Justin Gvora (Thunder Bay, Ont.) with the puck. After a nice little drop pass to Michael Nelson (Startford, Ont.) and a hard shot from just inside the zone, Derek Knowles (Vanderhoof, B.C.) fought for the rebound and put it in the back of the net.
Just over ten seconds later, Matt Lyall (Richmond Hill, Ont.) came streaking down the sideboards from center ice. Pulling the puck back at the top of the circle, Lyall sniped a top corner insurance marker, making the score 3-1.
Western made a goalie change following the third Gryphon goal and would close the gap to 3-2 before the end of the period
The Gryphons came out racing in the second taking control for the first half of the period. Unfortunately, after a poor play behind the net, the Mustangs were able to flip a quick shot on net that trickled in behind Smith and tied the game at three.
The Gryphons had a number of high quality chances in the second period but the bounces just weren't going their way.
The third period saw a devastating goal just slip past Smith to give the Mustangs the 4-3 lead and win.
Guelph fans were on the edge of their seats as time was winding down. After the Gryphons pulled their goalie, Guelph put some good shots on net, one of which bounced and floated over the Mustang goalie, looking like it was headed for the back of the net. Just as the Gryphon players swatted at the puck, a Mustangs defender pushed the net off its pegs, resulting in a stoppage of play. Even though everyone was hoping for a penalty shot on the deliberate interference call, the Gryphon were awarded a powerplay but could capitalize during the remaining eighteen seconds of the game.
This tough loss should fuel the Gryphons as they head out on a three-game road series starting next week where they will face Laurier, Waterloo, and Western.
Scoring Summary
1 Period 1. UWO: Corbeil, (Martin, Ouellet) 2:18
2. GUE: Kiriakou, (Lalonde) 4:19 (SH)
3. GUE: Knowles, (Gvora, Nelson) 8:14
4. GUE: Lyall, (Priamo, Gale) 8:26
5. UWO: Killing, (Swit, Corbeil) 12:44
2nd Period
6. UWO: Turkiewicz, (Snow, Baker) 10:44
3rd Period
7. UWO: Turkiewicz (Snow, Lamb) 6:38
Written By: Jacob Cassidy
