The Erie Otters made a valiant comeback attempt against Guelph Sunday afternoon.

But the Storm held on for a critical 6-4 win against the Otters in front of 2,864 fans at Tullio Arena.

Guelph (28-31-2-4) moved two points ahead of Sault Ste. Marie in the race for the Western Conference’s final spot in the OHL playoffs. Both teams have three regular-season games left. The Storm also are one point behind seventh-place Windsor, which also has three games left.

Meanwhile, the Otters (10-49-3-3) moved one regulation loss closer to equaling the 2006-07 club’s franchise record of 50. The 2011-12 club already owns the mark for most overall losses in a season (55), which surpassed the 53 defeats in 2006-07. The 2011-12 club already is assured of setting the mark for fewest losses in a season. The Otters are five wins behind the 2006-07 team with three games left.

The Storm grabbed a 2-0 lead late in the first period, as Brock McGinn scored the first of his two power-play goals with 4 minutes, 36 seconds left. Hunter Garlent followed with a goal 2:04 later.

Guelph’s lead reached 3-0 on McGinn’s goal 9:49 into the second period. But the Otters began to mount their comeback with rookie Mitchell Eisenberg’s third career OHL goal 47 seconds later. The Storm regained a three-goal lead at 4-1 on Jason Dickinson’s goal with 40 seconds left in the period.

But the Otters capitalized on Storm winger Scott Kosmachuk’s four-minute penalty for high sticking early in the third. Dane Fox and Anthony Cortellessa scored with the man advantage 1:09 apart to move the Otters within 4-3 at the 5:11 mark of the period.

Kosmachuk answered with his 29^th goal of the season, which handed the Storm a 5-3 lead, only to have Otters rookie Jake Evans score with 3:08 left. Evans’ goal pulled the Otters within 5-4. But Zack Mitchell scored into empty net with 37 seconds left – his 34^th goal of the season – to seal the Storm’s win.

McGinn (two goals) and Garlent (goal, assist) paced the Storm, while Garret Sparks made 31 saves.

Adam Pelech had two assists for the Otters, which had only 15 skaters – three below the league’s maximum – for the second straight game. J.P Cesario, who joined the team last week on emergency loan from Owen Sound, stopped 25-of-30 shots in his Otters’ debut.

SUMMARY

Storm 6, Otters 4

Erie  0  1  3  —  4

Guelph  2  2  2  —  6

1^st Period — 1. Guelph, Brock McGinn 11 (Kosmachuk, Finn), 15:24 (pp). 2. Guelph, Hunter Garlent 14 (Pereira), 17:28. Penalties — McCarthy (E) interference, :20; Kosmachuk (G) tripping, :35; Harper (E) hooking, 3:04; Kosmachuk (G) interference, 4:56; Pelech (E) tripping, 14:53.

2^nd Period — 3. Guelph, McGinn 12 (Kosmachuk, Finn), 10:11 (pp). 4. Erie, Mitchell Eisenberg 3 (McCarthy), 10:58. 5. Guelph, Jason Dickinson 12 (Gaskin), 19:20. Penalties — Donnay (E) interference, 1:23; Pereira (G) holding, 6:02; Evans (E) slashing, 8:49; Maaskant (E) roughing, 18:49; McNaughton (G) roughing, 18:49.

3^rd Period — 6. Erie, Dane Fox 22 (Pelech, Cairns), 4:02 (pp). 7. Erie, Anthony Cortellessa 7 (Pelech, Brown), 5:11 (pp). 8. Guelph, Scott Kosmachuk 29 (Garlent), 15:20. 9. Erie, Jake Evans 11 (unassisted), 16:52. 10. Guelph, Zack Mitchell 34 (unassisted), 19:23 (en). Penalties — Menard (G) tripping, :19; McCarthy (E) instigator, :19; McCarthy (E) 5-min. fighting, :19; Pedan (G) 5-min. fighting, :19; McCarthy (E) 10-min. misconduct, :19; Kosmachuk (G) 4-min. high sticking, 3:12; Harper (E) roughing, 4:57; Finn (G) roughing, 4:57.

Shots on goal — Guelph, 11-13-7—31; Erie, 9-10-16—35.

Goaltenders — Guelph, Garret Sparks 25-25-1-3 (35 shots, 31 saves); Erie, J.P. Cesario 0-1-0-0 (30 shots, 25 saves).

Power plays — Guelph (2-5), Erie (2-5).

Referees — David Gauthier, Steve Picco. Linesmen — Rick Janco, Mike Harrington.

Attendance — 2,864.

Three stars

* Brock McGinn, Storm (2 goals) ** Scott Kosmachuk, Storm (goal, 2 assists) *** Anthony Cortellessa, Otters (goal)

Kitchener Rangers (39-22-1-1) at Erie Otters (10-47-3-3)

When: Saturday, 7 p.m.

Where: Tullio Arena

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Up next: vs. Guelph (Sunday, 4:30 p.m.), at Guelph (Wednesday, 7 p.m.)

Fast facts: Connor Crisp will play his first game of the season at forward. Crisp, who had been out since undergoing shoulder surgery in September, made his season debut as the emergency goaltender last Sunday at Niagara. … G Keinan Brown has joined the team on emergency loan from Peterborough. Brown, 19, who played three games for the Petes a season ago, had a 19-8-1-1 record, 3.47 goals-against average and .902 save percentage with Cobourg (Ontario Junior A Hockey League) this season. … Brown teams with G J.P Cesario, 18, who joined the team Wednesday on emergency loan from Owen Sound. The Otters are still without Gs Ramis Sadikov and Devin Williams, who are out with concussions. … Rookie D Travis Wood was released from a hospital late Wednesday night after tests were negative. Wood, who was injured in Wednesday’s loss to Plymouth, was set to undergo cognitive tests to determine the extent of his injury. … The Otters are assured of at least equaling the franchise record for fewest wins in a season. They trail the 2006-07 club (15 wins) by five wins with five games left. The 2006-07 team also holds the mark for most losses in regulation (50). … The Otters have clinched the No. 1 pick in the OHL Priority Selection next month. They also will have the No. 3 pick in the CHL Import Draft in June, behind the worst QMJHL and WHL clubs, respectively. … RW Connor Brown (24 goals, 26 assists, 50 points) and LW Stephen Harper (24-11-35) are tied for second with Kitchener C Radek Faksa (26-33-59) for the OHL’s rookie lead in goals. Brown ranks third in assists and second to Faksa in points among rookies. … RW Johnny McGuire begins serving a two-game suspension for his game misconduct (aggressor in a fight) Wednesday against Plymouth.

- Victor Fernandes

The Erie Otters’ goaltending troubles continued Wednesday night.

Plymouth scored 10 goals on 39 shots against 2009 draft pick Adam Wood, who was recalled from the Clarington Eagles’ Junior C club Wednesday, in the Whalers’ 10-6 win at Tullio Arena.

The Otters (10-47-3-3) entered the game off a 13-4 loss at Niagara Sunday, which saw forward Connor Crisp allow 13 goals on 45 shots as the emergency goaltender in place of injured Ramis Sadikov.

That prompted the Otters to bring in Wood and J.P. Cesario, who was an emergency loan from Owen Sound. The West Division-leading Whalers (44-17-2-1) capitalized on Erie’s struggles in net.

Mitchell Heard and Austin Levi led the way with two goals and an assist apiece. Tom Wilson, Stefan Noesen and Garrett Meurs had a goal and assist apiece for the Whalers.

Stephen Harper had his first OHL hat trick for the Otters. Sondre Olden had a goal and two assists while Luke Cairns had a goal and assist. Erie began the night with an injured list that included goaltenders Sadikov and Devin Williams, defensemen Jimmy McDowell and Nathan Glass and forward Nick Betz. Crisp, who made his season debut Sunday against Niagara as the emergency goaltender, also was scratched.

They also were short two skaters. Then rookie defenseman Travis Wood was injured in the first period on a high hit from from the Whalers’ Wilson. Wood was taken off the ice wearing a neck brace and on a stretcher and was taken a local hospital. No official word from the Otters after the game on Wood’s condition.

Yet the Otters built a 3-1 lead less than eight minutes into the game.

Cairns opening the scoring 4:27 into the game on assists from Dane Fox and Adam Pelech. Plymouth tied the score on Heard’s goal 46 seconds later. But Kris Grant scored at the 6:47 mark, followed by Harper’s goal 1:01 later to hand the Otters a two-goal lead.

Yet Heard’s second goal of the period, scored with 53 seconds left in the first, sparked a barrage of six consecutive goals that propelled the Whalers to a 7-3 lead. Plymouth scored the final five goals of that decisive stretch in the opening 10:25 of the second period. Cody Payne ended the second with Plymouth’s second short-handed goal for an 8-4. He scored 1:28 after Harper scored during a 5-on-3 opportunity.

At the 5:03 mark of the third, Harper scored his 24^th goal of the season to complete his first career hat trick and move the Otters within 8-5. But Levi and J.T. Miller scored 1:08 apart to build a 10-5 Whalers’ lead. Olden’s goal capped the high-scoring game.

- Victor Fernandes

SUMMARY

Whalers 10, Otters 6

Plymouth  2  6  2  —  10

Erie  3  1  2  —  6

1^st Period — 1. Erie, Luke Cairns 14 (Fox, Pelech), 4:27. 2. Plymouth, Mitchell Heard 27 (Meurs, Jones), 5:13. 3. Erie, Kris Grant 3 (Brown, Cairns), 6:47. 4. Erie, Stephen Harper 22 (Olden), 7:48. 5. Plymouth, Heard 28 (unassisted), 19:07. Penalties — Payne (P) interference, 10:37; McGuire (E) instigator, 12:59; McGuire (E) 5-min. fighting, 12:59; Wilson (P) 5-min. fighting, 12:59; McGuire (E) 10-min. misconduct, 12:59; McGuire (E) game misconduct, 12:59; Fox (E) 5-min. fighting, 16:53; Miller (P) 5-min. fighting, 16:53.

2^nd Period — 6. Plymouth, Stefan Noesen 34 (Rakell, Wilson), :20. 7. Plymouth, Austin Levi 4 (Noesen, Rakell), 3:35. 8. Plymouth, Alex Aleardi 33 (unassisted), 5:27 (sh). 9. Plymouth, Garrett Meurs 20 (Heard), 6:59. 10. Plymouth, Tom Wilson 8 (unassisted), 10:25. 11. Erie, Harper 23 (Pelech, McCarthy), 17:28 (pp). 12. Plymouth, Cody Payne 5 (Devane), 18:56 (sh). Penalties — Fox (E) 10-min. misconduct, 3:35; Devane (P) high sticking, 4:30; Meurs (P) high sticking, 10:39; Whaley (P) holding, 16:26; Trutmann (P) tripping, 17:20.

3^rd Period — 13. Erie, Harper 24 (Olden), 5:03. 14. Plymouth, Levi 5 (Whaley), 10:51. 15. Plymouth, J.T. Miller 24 (Whaley, Levi), 11:59. 16. Erie, Sondre Olden 11 (Evans, Harper), 16:40. Penalties — Jones (P) interference, 2:51; Fox (E) 5-min. fighting, 6:50; Jones (P) 5-min. fighting, 6:50; Malysa (P) slashing, 13:27.

Shots on goal — Plymouth, 10-15-14—39; Erie, 10-6-11—27.

Goaltenders — Plymouth, Matt Mahalak (7 shots, 4 saves), Scott Wedgewood 25-9-2-1 (21 shots, 18 saves); Erie, Adam Wood 0-1-0-0 (39 shots, 29 saves).

Power plays — Plymouth (0-1), Erie (1-7).

Referees — Joe Park, Pat Myers. Linesmen — Ryan Holmstead, Ray King.

Attendance — 2,256.

Three stars

* Austin Levi, Whalers (2 goals, assist) ** Stephen Harper, Otters (3 goals, assist) *** Mitchell Heard, Whalers (2 goals, assist)