GM's presence helps Storm win
11/5/2001WHEELING, W.Va. - When a team is slumping, the smallest change can do wonders.
The Toledo Storm have not won since the second game of the season so Storm general manager Pat Pylypuik made an appearance behind the bench here last night.
Not that head coach Dennis Holland was to blame for the 0-6-1 streak, but anything that would put a halt to the streak would be welcomed.
The man-euver paid off as Toledo scored four power-play goals enroute to a 7-3 pasting of Wheeling at the Wheeling Civic Center.
“When you haven't won in seven games, you try everything and anything you can,” Holland said. “He was there to motivate us, help in whatever way he could. He was good behind the bench. A different perspective helps.”
Holding a 2-1 advantage one period, Toledo exploded for three second-period goals, including two on the power play.
Storm captain Rob Thorpe scored twice , and Jason Norrie scored the other.
Norrie's goal made it 3-1, and Thorpe upped the count to 4-1 when he whipped the puck past Wheeling goalie Joel Laing off a nice pass from James Patterson from behind the Nailers' net.
That goal chased Laing from the net and rookie Tyler MacKay made his home debut. Laing had stopped 47 of 49 shots Friday night in Toledo and 38 of 39 Saturday night against Reading.
MacKay gave up a power-play goal to Thorpe late in the second period. Thorpe one-timed a pass from Jeff Petrie into the net.
The fourth power-play goal made it 6-1 as Norrie beat MacKay off a nifty cross-ice pass from Chris Wismer.
Wheeling scored two goals to pull within 6-3, but Shawn Maltby sealed the deal with a breakaway goal at 18:53.
“We knew that we would shake out of our slump at some time,” Holland said.
So, will Pylypuik remain behind the bench?
“Until we lose,” Holland replied.