Devin Sutton (L) and Sam Erkkila pressure the Canmore net. Photo courtesy Shaun Penner/EverythingGP

By Jeff Henson

STORM

Storm losing streak hits three

Oct 20, 2019 | 9:16 AM

Good news…… the Grande Prairie Storm power play broke out of its recent home ice struggles with a pair of goals on Saturday.

The bad news….. the Canmore Eagles scored four times with their own power play en route to a 6-2 win over the Storm.

“On probably three out of the four goals against on the penalty kill, we had an opportunity to get the puck out.” said coach Matt Keillor after the game. “And for whatever reason it is a bobbled puck or a soft play, and it is kept in and it is in the back of our net two seconds later.”

“It was a special teams game and we lost that battle. Even though we scored two goals, four power play goals against in a game like this should never happen.”

Ethan Strang would open the scoring on the power play, potting his sixth of the season for the Storm just 3:34 into the first period.

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But power play goals from Alex Young and Connor Lyons, and a late marker from Jared Bowman gave the Eagles a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes, while Owen Reith added a second period marker to stretch the lead to three after 40 minutes.

Brody Dale, in just his second game back from injury, wired home a wrist shot on an early third period man advantage to give the Storm some life. But two more power play goals from Young and Lane Paddison would wrap up the scoring for the Eagles.

The loss was the third in a row for the Storm, who have now gone 1-7 in their past eight games. In that time, they are averaging just over 2 goals per game, a stat that is frustrating to their coach.

“We are creating opportunities to score but our forwards are not burying them.” added Keillor. “I think out of our last 12-13 breakaways, we have one goal. With our speed, we can create a lot of opportunities, but we are not executing. Then we give up a 2-on-1 or a breakaway, and it’s in the back of our net right now.”

The Storm will hit the road for three goals in three games next weekend, starting Friday night in Camrose.