Three games are on the AJHL Playoff schedule tonight, here is a quick preview of each series:
Brooks Bandits @ Olds Grizzlys (Bandits lead series 3-0)
- The Brooks Bandits can become the first team to punch their ticket to the divisional finals tonight as they travel to Olds to take on the Grizzlys.
- The Bandits hold a 3-0 series lead and have looked very dominate in those three games.
- Brooks is looking to sweep the Grizzlys out of the playoffs for the second time in three years.
- In 2012 the Bandits swept the Olds Grizzlys in the South Finals.
- Puck drop at the Olds Sportsplex will be at 7:30.
Canmore Eagles @ Drumheller Dragons (Dragons lead series 2-1)
- The Drumheller Dragons looked very impressive on home ice in game three last night and will look to take a strangle hold lead on their series with the Canmore Eagles tonight.
- Canmore was unable to find any offence and was shutout 4-0 on Monday night.
- The Eagles haven't scored a goal since the 16:19 (103:41) mark of the first period in game two.
- Puck drop at the Drumheller Memorial Arena will be at 7:00.
Fort McMurray Oil Barons @ Lloydminster Bobcats (Oil Barons lead 2-1)
- The Fort McMurray Oil Barons got home ice advantage back last night and now will look to put the Lloydminster Bobcats back on their heels as the two teams get set for game four.
- Fort McMurray controlled much of the play in game three on Monday night and cruised to a 4-1 win.
- However, the Oil Barons know just how resilient the Bobcats can be.
- In round one the Bobcats were just 10 seconds away from being eliminated but managed to stay alive and win the series in five games.
- Puck drop at the Centennial Regional Arena will be at 7:30.
Monday Night Wrap Up
Drumheller vs Canmore
The Dragons take advantage of home ice to earn a 2-1 series lead on the Canmore Eagles on Monday night.
Dragons would strike early as Chris Rauckman gives Drumheller a 1-0 lead just 1:12 into the game.
It would be the only goal of the opening period.
In the second it was another early goal as the Colton Vannucci would give the Dragons a 2-0 lead 4:18 into the second period.
Dallas Smith would add to the Dragons lead with an even strength goal at 10:36 of the second period making it 3-0 Drumheller.
Chris Rauckman would then score his second of the game at 18:12 of the second period and it was 4-0 Dragons after two.
Neither team would score in the third as the Dragons shutdown the Canmore Eagles and win game three 4-0 to take a 2-1 series lead.
Drumheller goaltender Curtis Skip made 22 saves to earn the shutout.
Canmore goaltender Cam Barnes made 24 saves in the loss.
Game four goes in Drumheller on Tuesday night.
Sherwood Park vs Spruce Grove
The road team continues to dominate as the Spruce Grove Saints got back into their North Division Semi Final series on Monday.
Special teams were huge in the early part of game three as the Saints and Crusaders get early power play goals.
The Crusaders got their goal from Colten Meaver at 1:49.
Jarid Hauptman would tie the game at 1-1 for the Saints at 5:37.
Riley Simpson would then give the Saints a 2-1 lead at 11:15 of the opening period with their second power play goal of the game.
Penalties continued to hurt the Crusaders in the opening period as Carson Samoridny would give the Saints a 3-1 lead at 19:25 of the opening period.
The Crusaders would draw within one on the power play in the second period as Arthur Gordon would make it 3-2 Saints at the 13:51 mark of the second period.
The Crusaders would push the Saints in the third period but were unable to tie the game.
Spruce Grove goaltender Tanner McCorriston made 18 saves in the win.
Sherwood Park goaltender Tommy Nixon turned away 29 shots in the loss.
The Crusaders still lead the best of seven 2-1.
Game four will go Wednesday night in Sherwood Park.
Olds vs Brooks
Bandits push the Grizzlys to the brink of elimination after earning their first road win of the post season on Monday night.
Once again the Bandits got off to a quick start outshooting the Grizzlys 9-1 midway through the opening period.
Anthony Paskaruk would finally find a way to beat Grizzly starting goaltender Ethan Jemieff at 10:14 of the opening period.
The Grizzlys would answer as Kyle Starr would tie the game at 1-1 17:06 into the opening period.
The Bandits took over game three in the second period and it started while they were shorthanded, Austin Plevy would give the Bandits a 2-1 lead just 56 seconds into the period.
Patrick Chore would add to the Bandits lead at 4:55 to make it 3-1.
Maddison Smiley kept the strong start to the second period going as he was able to capitalize on the power play at 6:57 of the second period to give Brooks a 4-1 lead.
The Grizzlys would respond on the power play as regular season co-scoring champion Spencer Dorowicz would score on the power play to make it 4-2 in favor of Brooks at the 11:44 mark of the second period.
Olds would continue to chip away as Tyler Kerner centered the puck in front and Christopher Gerrie slapped a one timer into the back of the net to make it 4-3 Bandits at 15:43 of the second period.
Olds tied the game early in the third period on the power play as Austin Kernahan capitalized on a rebound at 1:17.
However, the Bandits would retake the lead as Kyler Nachtigall banged in the rebound at 8:48 to make it 5-4.
The Bandits Patrick Chore would get his second of the night finishing off a 2 on 1 to give the Bandits a 6-4 lead at 17:48 of the third period.
The Bandits now lead the series 3-0.
The Bandits can advance to the South Finals with a win on Tuesday night in Olds.
Brooks goaltender Michael Fredrick made 20 saves in the victory.
Olds goaltender Ethan Jemieff stopped 36 of 42 shots directed his way.
Lloydminster vs Fort McMurray
Fort McMurray takes the lead in the series with a road win in game three on Monday night.
For the third straight game the Oil Barons would score the first goal thanks to Alex Cromwell’s even strength marker at 12:44 of the opening period.
The Bobcats would answer though as Austin MacDonald would score even strength at 17:29 and after one period the game would be tied at 1-1.
Brennan Saulnier would come out of the penalty box early in the second period and give the Oil Barons a 2-1 lead just 50 seconds into the second period.
Mitchell Vanderlaan would then get behind the Bobcats defence and make no mistake beating Bobcats goalie Christopher Tai over the glove to make it 3-1 Oil Barons at the 6:25 mark of the third period.
Curtis Lewington would make it 4-1 on the power play as he managed to find some room from the point and put the puck behind Tai at the 14:16 mark of the third period.
The Oil Barons now lead the series 2-1.
Fort McMurray goalie Tanner Jaillet made 23 saves in the victory.
Lloydminster goaltender Christopher Tai made 33 saves in the loss.
Game four will go Tuesday night in Lloydminster.
Story by Chris Colwell