GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Storm delivered the Brampton Battalion a reality check Friday night.

Patrick Watling, Hunter Garlent and Brody Milne each scored one goal and added one assist as Guelph defeated the Battalion 4-1, handing the Troops their first loss in five preseason Ontario Hockey League games.

Daniel Poliziani had the other goal for the Storm, which avenged a 5-2 setback on Battalion ice Thursday night.

Goaltender Garret Sparks made 30 saves for Guelph.

Derek Froats scored for the Battalion. Starting goaltender Matej Machovsky gave up three goals on 21 shots before Jake Smith came on at 9:28 of the second period. Smith surrendered one goal on 21 shots, including 12 in the scoreless third period, as the Troops completed exhibition play.

The Storm, which led 2-0 after 20 minutes, made it 3-0 when Milne scored on a one-timer from the left-wing circle at 4:45 of the second period.

With Brandon Robinson off for slashing, Froats replied shorthanded at 11:15, converting the rebound of a shot by Mike Amadio off the right wing on a two-on-one rush.

Defenceman Poliziani responded before Robinson finished his time, however, beating Smith from the left side on a pass from an onrushing Cody McNaughton at 11:55.

Barclay Goodrow hit the crossbar behind Sparks in the first minute of the period.

The Battalion went on the power play for the first time at 12:44, when Kyle Locke was penalized for holding, and again after Garlent’s hooking infraction at 16:20 but couldn’t take advantage.

Watling opened the scoring on the power play at 9:22 of the first period with Froats serving the second half of a double minor for high-sticking on Jason Dickinson. Watling drove to the net off the left wing to cash the rebound of a shot by Zack Mitchell.

Garlent struck at 11:47 when the puck came off the right-wing end boards for a quick conversion. Dickinson and Milne drew the assists.

Machovsky made several big stops in the period, first with a left-pad save at close range with Guelph on the power play after Spencer Abraham was assessed a delay-of-game penalty at 1:59.

Machovsky then produced a right-pad stop against Justin Auger late in the first half of Froats’s double minor. The veteran goaltender was busy in the period as the Storm outshot the Troops 14-5.

The Battalion enjoyed what was perhaps its best final-period scoring chance when Jamie Lewis, Nick Paul and Kyle Wood staged a three-man rush, but it came to naught at the goalmouth.

Battalion scratches were Marcus McIvor, Connor Jarvis, Brenden Miller, Matt MacLeod, Geoff Bezruchko and Matt Bragagnolo. Guelph scratched Andrey Pedan, Brock McGinn and Scott Kosmachuk.

The Battalion opens its regular-season schedule at home against the Niagara IceDogs at 7:30 p.m. next Friday.

BATTALION NOTEBOOK: No attendance was recorded at the Sleeman Centre … The Battalion went 0-for-3 on the power play. Guelph was 2-for-6 … Congested traffic because of an accident on Highway 401 saw the Battalion arrive at the arena just an hour before game time … It was the final preseason home game for Guelph, which wraps up exhibition play Saturday night against the Barrie Colts. The Storm opens its regular season next Friday night against the visiting Saginaw Spirit … Battalion coach Stan Butler watched the game from the media box while assistants Ryan Oulahen and Jason Ward manned the bench … The Battalion reduced its roster to 24 players when left winger Bezruchko and right winger Bragagnolo were released outright after the game. Bezruchko, a former member of the Peterborough Petes, played eight games with the Troops last season … Opening line combinations included Patrik Machac centring left winger Robinson and right winger Mathew Santos, Lewis centring left winger Paul and right winger Goodrow and Nicholas Foglia pivoting left winger Blake Clarke and right winger Mitch Amante. Brennan Feasey centred left winger Froats and right winger Amadio … Defence pairings were Cameron Wind with Zach Bell, Dylan Blujus with Wood and Abraham with Mark Raycroft … Bell wore the captain’s ‘C’ for the game, while Goodrow, Froats and Abraham were the alternates … Miller and Kosmachuk sat out after receiving suspensions for their late-game fight Thursday night. The Storm dressed 19 players, one below the limit, as a result … Jarvis was scratched with an upper-body injury suffered Thursday night … Referees Pat Myers and Chris Thornton worked the game.