Drumheller vs. Brooks (Dragons lead 3-1)
The Brooks Bandits found a way to stay alive and force game five in Brooks, as they defeated the Drumheller Dragons 3-1 on Tuesday night.
For the second straight game the Bandits would open the scoring as Patrick Lee (assists to Maddison Smiley and Brandon Bruce) ripped a shot from the point that beat Dragons’ goaltender Devin Buffalo at 10:48.
Shots ended up favoring the Dragons 12-8 in the opening period.
Both teams would play defensively in the second period and neither team was able to score.
The Bandits would out shoot the Dragons 8-7 in the period, but it was the Dragons who led the shot clock 19-16 after two periods.
Just 42 seconds into the third period Patrick Chore (assists to Patrick Lee and Brandon Bruce) took a cross crease pass and beat Buffalo to make it 2-0 Bandits.
The Bandits would keep coming as just 1:30 (2:11 of the period) Alex Roberts (assist to Shane Bear)out waited Buffalo to make it 3-0.
The Dragons would spoil the shutout bid by Michael Fredrick at 14:49 as Shayne Gwinner (assist to Troy Gedny) blasted a shot from the point to make it 3-1.
That’s as close as the Dragons would get as the Bandits were able to earn a win and keep their season going.
The Dragons out shot the Bandits 10-5 in the third period and 29-21 in the hockey game.
Game five will be Thursday night in Brooks.
Fort McMurray vs. Spruce Grove (Oil Barons lead 3-1)
A year after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, the Fort McMurray Oil Barons find themselves just one win away from advancing to the Gas Drive Cup Finals after a 3-2 win over Spruce Grove on Tuesday night.
Neither team would be able to score in the opening period despite a number of chances for both teams, the Saints out shot the Oil Barons 13-12.
The Oil Barons would open the scoring in the second as Ryan Bloom (assists to Brennan Saulnier and Louis Joseph Sawyer) snapped a shot behind Saints’ goaltender Kenny Cameron at 3:28.
The Saints answer just 1:29 later (4:57 of the second) as Jarid Hauptman (assists to Dylan Hollman and Carson Samoridny) out waited Oil Barons’ goaltender Tanner Jaillet to tie the game at 1-1.
The Oil Barons wouldn’t wait long to restore the lead as Mitchell Byrne beat Cameron blocker side to give the Oil Barons a 2-1 lead at 5:36 of the second period.
The goals kept coming as the Oil Barons would extend their lead at 7:18 as Mitchell Vanderlaan beat Cameron over the blocker to make it 3-1 Oil Barons.
Shots favored the Oil Barons 6-5 in the period, but the shots were even at 18-18 after two.
In the third the Saints would get within one as Tristan Sieben found the puck in the slot and fired it past Jaillet to make it 3-2 at 8:58.
Shots favored the Saints 12-8 in the period and 30-26 in the hockey game.
The Saints will now try and stay alive on Friday night when they return home for game five.
Story by Chris Colwell
