Spruce Grove vs. Fort McMurray (Oil Barons lead 3-2)
The Spruce Grove Saints are still alive in the North Division Finals following a 5-2 victory over the Fort McMurray Oil Barons on Friday night.
For the third time in this series the Saints and Oil Barons headed into the first intermission tied 0-0.
Both teams would get chances in the first period, but neither team was able to light the lamp.
Saints outshot the Oil Barons 12-9 in the opening period.
In the second period, Tyler Busch (assists to Nathan Smith and Tristan Sieben) would open the scoring for the Saints at 1:43 as he finished off a three on two, to beat Oil Barons’ goaltender Tanner Jaillet to make it 1-0.
The Oil Barons would answer on the power play as Ryan Bloom (assists to Cole Dunphy and Hayden Dawes) snapped a shot past Saints’ goaltender Kenny Cameron at 15:26 to tie the game at 1-1.
The Saints would strike twice in the final minute of the period.
First, the Saints would win a faceoff and Jarid Hauptman(assists to Austin Hunter and Dylan Hollman) found the loose puck, drove to the front of the net and slid the puck past Jaillet to make it 2-1 at 19:13.
Then 45 seconds later Carson Samoridny (assist to Cameron Hughes) snapped a shot from the top of the slot beating Jaillet to make it 3-1 at 19:58.
Shots favored the Saints 18-5 in the period and 30-14 in the game.
The Saints would add to the lead in the third period as Dylan Hollman (assist to Jarid Hauptman) pounced on a rebound and swept the puck past Jaillet at 6:40.
The Oil Barons would answer just 12 seconds later as Luc Lalor (assists to Danton Ayotte and Cole Dunphy) swept the puck behind Cameron to make it 4-2 in favor of the Saints.
The Saints would get that goal back as Jake Mykitiuk would finish off a quick centering pass from Parker Mackay to beat Jaillet to make it 5-2 at 12:05.
The Oil Barons outshot the Saints 14-13 in the third period, but the Saints would outshoot the Oil Barons 43-28 in the hockey game.
Game six will be in Fort McMurray on Sunday night.
Story by Chris Colwell