The Fort McMurray Oil Barons roared back in a wild third period in Game 3 of their best-of-seven series against the Sherwood Park Crusaders to force overtime but in the extra frame, Carter Savoie deflected in a point shot to give the Crusaders the 4-3 win and a 2 games to 1 lead in the series.
“We need to play our brand of hockey and when we want to play on our toes and we want finish hits, we create turnovers and we’re okay but when we want to play passive and allow them to come at us, they’re a team that’s going to pick you apart,” said MOB Head Coach Tom Keca whose team looked good in stretches but also saw the Crusaders hem them in their own zone numerous times throughout the game including on the overtime winner.
After a very physical two games of the series in Sherwood Park, that trend continued Monday night at the Casman Centre. Big hits and a lot of post whistle scrums as the two teams very clearly do not like one another.
The Crusaders received a boost to their line-up for Game 3 when Zach Kaiser returned from injury. Kaiser was acquired at the CJHL trade deadline from the Lloydminster Bobcats and quickly made his presence felt in the series when he scored 9:42 into the first period to give the Crusaders the lead after the first period.
The opening two periods saw a parade to the penalty box for both teams and nearly the entire second period was played on special teams. The Crusaders would double up their lead just as a 5-on-3 powerplay was expiring. A rebound was kicked out by Chris Curr and went right to William Zapernick who hammered home his first goal of the series. Zapernick, a powerplay specialist led the AJHL in powerplay goals during the season with 14.
Frustrations were mounting for the MOB but a good start to the third period got them right back in the game. Taner Miller took a cross-ice pass from Reed Morison and fired a shot towards goal. The shot was blocked but came right back to him and from the below the goal line, the Oil Barons captain threw the puck out front and it deflected off a Crusader skate and in behind Matt Berlin 19 seconds into the period.
The Casman Centre had life once and again and the Barons carried that momentum into the next shift when Ty Ettinger forced a turnover in centre ice. He found Peter Tomaras on the right wing and Tomaras wired a shot into the top right corner to tie the game 2-2.
“We rely on our leaders throughout the course of the year and throughout the course of the game. Tomaras scored a great goal for us, Miller gets us going so that’s two 20 year olds but to be honest with you, we need some contributions from some other guys. Some other guys have just been way to quiet here in the playoffs,” said Keca and most notably that player is Reed Morison who despite creating chances has yet to find the back of the net through seven playoff games.
The Crusaders called a timeout to try to settle things down and re-took the lead just 29 seconds later when Tyler Jette scored while shorthanded.
Three goals in the opening two minutes of the third period had the crowd buzzing and the MOB gave them something else to cheer about when Konrad Belcourt tied the game 3-3 with another powerplay goal for the MOB.
“We answered the bell in the third period and we showed when we want to play on our toes and go hard into battles we can be successful,” said Keca
The roughness continued in the third period and saw two game ejections for the Crusaders. Reid Irwin was sent off after a dangerous check from behind to the Oil Barons Kole Gable. Then it was Arjun Atwal who was ejected for receiving three stick infraction penalties in the game.
Both teams traded chances late in the third period but this game was destined for overtime. It didn’t take long, 2:46 into the extra frame, Michael Benning’s point shot was deflected by Carter Savoie past Curr.
“Those overtime goals usually aren’t pretty and this was just a shot to the net where they had a guy in front and we didn’t tie up sticks, we didn’t block pucks and it goes in,” said Keca.
The Oil Barons will look to even up the series Tuesday night at the Casman Centre for Game 4. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Prior to the game, Country 93.3 and the Fort McMurray Oil Barons will be holding a food drive in support of the Wood Buffalo Food Bank.
