Plymouth Whalers Lose Preseason Finale, 4-3, in Guelph

Photo by Rena Laverty - Will Bitten scored Friday night for Plymouth in a 4-3 loss in Guelph

Pius Suter’s goal at 12:41 of the third period snapped a 3-3 tie and the Guelph Storm defeated the Plymouth Whalers, 4-3, in an Ontario Hockey League preseason game played Friday night at Sleeman Centre in Guelph.

The Whalers – who fought back from a 3-1 deficit to tie the game early in the third period – finish the preseason 2-3-0-0.

Danny Vanderwiel (2nd of the preseason), Brook Hiddink (first) and Will Bitten (second) scored the goals for Plymouth. Zack Bowman played the entire game in goal for Plymouth, stopping 21-of-25 shots.

Besides Suter’s game-winning goal, Guelph received goals from Stephen Pierog, Adam Craievich and Alexs Rapp. Justin Nichols stopped 22-of-25 Plymouth shots for the Storm.

Both teams played with a short roster as many players on both teams were attending National Hockey League training camps and/or playing in Prospects Tournaments.

Plymouth scratches included Alex Nedeljkovic,, Josh Wesley and Mathew Campagna (all with Carolina); Sonny Milano (Columbus), Alex Peters (Dallas), Matt Mistele (Los Angeles), Gianluca Curcuruto (Montreal), Victor Crus Rydberg (NY Islanders) and Mitch Jones (Ottawa).

Conner Chatham (New Jersey) played in the game and will report to the Devils’ camp on Sunday.

Speaking of Nedekjkovic, he made 34 stops in Carolina’s 6-1 win over Buffalo on Friday in Traverse City in the 2014 NHl Prospects Tournament.

Hurricanes.com has complete coverage (including video).

Milano was hurt in Columbus’ 6-4 win over Minnesota on Friday in the Prospects Tournament.

Guelph scratches included Robby Fabbri (St. Louis), Jason Dickinson (Dallas), Justin Auger and Zac Leslie (both with Los Angeles),Tyler Bertuzzi (Detroit), Ben Harper (Ottawa) and Chad Bauman (Chicago). Goaltender Mathew Mancina was the other Storm scratch.

The Whalers got off to a good start and led 1-0 on Vanderwiel’s goal at 2:09 of the first period. Good work deep in the Guelph zone by linemates Connor Sills and Vince Scognamiglio set up Vanderwiel at the hashmarks and he made no mistake with the shot.

Guelph came back later in the first period to scored twice in 11 seconds to take the lead. Pierog – the oldest player on the ice – followed up his own rebound to score at the side of the Plymouth goal at 8:29 on a Guelph power play. Craievich followed up at 8:40, banking a shot from the right goal line deep in the Plymouth zone off traffic and past Bowman for the Storm’s first lead.

The Storm took at 3-1 lead at 3:48 of the second period on a contribution from a couple of rookies. Defenseman Kyle Rhodes took a low shot from the right point that Rapp re-directed through traffic between the hashmarks.

Plymouth cut the Guelph lead to 3-2 on a power play at16:03 of the second period. Hiddink skated to the right circle and threaded the puck through skates just inside the left post. Point men Tyler Sensky and Yannick Rathgeb drew assists.

The Whalers tied the game at 3-3 at 2:44 of the third period when Bitten followed up Nichols’ save and scored on a loose puck on the left side of the Guelph goal for his second of the pre-season.

That set the stage for Suter’s game-winner as he put the shot while on the rush from the left circle over Bowman’s shoulder.

Plymouth pressured over the final minutes, but could not find the equalizer.

Plymouth outshot Guelph, 26-25.

MORE COVERAGE - Tony Saxon, Guelph Mercury.

The Whalers are off until Sept. 26 when they start the 2014-15 season in London, with the home opener set for Sat. Sept. 27 at 7:05 pm at Compuware Arena against Erie.