The Calgary Mustangs were simply the better team Friday night at the Casman Centre. The visitor’s scored early and often to double up the Fort McMurray Oil Barons 6-3.
The win was the Mustangs (19-13-6) fifth in a row and for the MOB (19-12-7) snapped their three game winning streak.
Calgary would get three first period goals from Connor Brock, Reece Soukoroff and Liam Freeborn to open up a 3-0 advantage after the opening period. The Mustangs were flying despite this being their first game in 14 days.
“We just had way to many passengers and early we just chased the game and against a good team and Calgary is a good team when you start chasing, you start taking chances and they’re smart enough to exploit you and they capitalized,” said MOB Head Coach Tom Keca.
Things went from bad to worse for the MOB in the second period when Andres Bridgewater centered a pass that hit a MOB player’s skate and ended up in behind Josh Dias to make it 4-0.
The Barons did get some life before the middle frame was out. Jarred White hooked up with the recently committed Liam Izyk on a two-on-one to put the MOB on the board. Izyk is off to the University of Alabama-Huntsville next season.
“He’s such a great kid, he’s been a great Oil Baron and had a great career here so for him to obtain that post-secondary institution scholarship is great for him,” said Keca on Izyk who has spent three seasons in Fort McMurray. “He had a couple other offers as well and felt this was the best fit for him so as an organization we’re happy for Liam and his family and we’re also happy that we’re able to move players onto the next level as well.”
Kole Gable would get the MOB within two on a powerplay when he poked in a loose puck in the crease after a mad scramble in front of the Mustangs goal.
Brady Barclay and Chase Miller put the game out of reach in the third period when they both found the back of the net for the Mustangs. Izyk would notch his second of the game with 55 seconds left as he sent a laser into the top right corner to give him seven goals on the season and set a new career high in points with 28.
A bright spot for the MOB was the newly formed line of Izyk between Jarred White and Peter Tomaras as all three players extended their point streaks to four games. The line has scored in every game since being put together after the Christmas break.
“It’s a line that played well today and probably the only line to be honest with you,” said Keca.
Josh Dias picked up the loss for the MOB making 19 saves while Fort McMurrayite Ashton Abel registered the win for the Mustangs in front of family and friends as he made several big saves early on and finished the game with 26 saves.
The MOB are right back in action against another South Division opponent as they take on the Olds Grizzlys for the first time this season on Saturday. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. at the Casman Centre.
