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Grande Prairie Storm bench. Photo Credit: Shane Clausing
GP Storm

Storm drop 10th straight in loss to Thunder

Feb 13, 2020 | 10:27 AM

The Grande Prairie Storm’s winless streak stretched to 10 games following a 4-1 loss to the Drayton Valley Thunder Wednesday night.

After what can be described as a disappointing performance Tuesday night, Wednesday night proved to be a much better effort.

GP got off to a great start early in the first period, as they would head onto a five on three less than two minutes into the game. While they generated a couple of really good chances, the Thunder’s penalty kill was able to hold and keep the Storm off the board.

The rest of the first was very similar to the night before, not a lot of whistles and not many great chances. It remained scoreless after 20 minutes of play.

In the second the Storm stuck first.

Brenden Kwiatkowski made a great heads up pass and find Austin Schellenberg down the far-left side to create a two on one chance. Schellenberg would then dish the puck to Max Giangualano who would get the opening goal to make it a 1-0 Storm lead.

It was Giangualno’s first goal with the Storm since he was acquired in a trade from Canmore.

The Storm lead wouldn’t last long, as Brendan Kuny would add a goal for the Thunder to tie the game up at one. It would remain that way heading into the third.

In what can be described as a back and forth third period, the Storm had their chances, but couldn’t finish.

With 8:59 gone in the third Grayson Reid would give the Thunder a 2-1 lead.

From there the Storm tried to tie the game up, but the Thunder did a great job holding the lead. They would eventually go on and win 4-1 while scoring two empty-net goals in the process.

“We were way better tonight than last night, the boys really took control of the room and the bench,” said Assistant Coach Taylor Makin.

In the first period Storm Capitan Jackson Wozniak started but didn’t finish as he left the game early in the first period with an injury.

This loss marks the Grande Prairie’s 10th straight. Makin talked about the message in the room as the winless streak continued.

“I think the message moving forward is today’s day two, and we took a step forward from day one, so let’s take another step forward tomorrow for day three and another step day four on Friday and keep moving forward into the playoffs.”

The Storm close out their three-game homestand on Friday when they host the Calgary Canucks at Revolution Place. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m.