FORT MCMURRAY, AB (November 17, 2012) — The Fort McMurray Oil Barons (11-12-2) snapped their three-game losing streak at home Friday night, with a comfortable 4-1 win over the visiting Calgary Mustangs, but an injury to leading scorer Harry Hendrix (Calgary, AB) could make it a pyrrhic victory.
The MOB more than doubled the Mustangs in shots in the first, by a 14-6 tally, but could only beat goaltender Jake Tamagi once.
That goal came when forward Adam Durkee (Lafayette, CO) was denied on an opportunity from the right-wing faceoff circle, but recollected the puck in the high slot, and fired a wrister into the top-right corner of the net for the MOB's first lead at the 13:25 mark.
“Luckily, [Scott] Pooley and [Kyle] Campbell were driving to the net, so it drove their D back; they had to cover them,” said Durkee. “So I thought I'd just get a shot on net, and hope for the best, and luckily it went in.”
The Mustangs tied the game just under five minutes later, when Chase McMurphy tipped a centering pass from Damien Kulynych past Tanner Jaillet (Red Deer, AB) to knot the score with 1:38 left in the frame.
It would be the only time Jaillet wouldn't save a Mustang shot, as he made 21 saves on 22 shots overall.
Hendrix scored the game-winner just over halfway through the 2nd on a sharp-angle shot from the left side of the Calgary net, firing a wrister far-side on Tamagi for his 13th of the year.
But Hendrix was rocked with a hard open-ice hit in the following period, and left the ice very gingerly, favouring a leg, and did not return to the game.
6:35 into the third, Alex Cromwell (McKinney, TX) forced a turnover at the right side of the Mustang net and jammed a point-blank opportunity past Tamagi to extend the lead to two.
At the 13:49 mark, Scott Pooley (Granger, IN) scored his second goal as a Baron on a 2-on-1 rush, carrying the puck in along the left wing and firing a right-handed wrister past Tamagi to cap the scoring.
“Especially having so many vets out, the rookies have to step up,” Durkee said. “We finally started burying some chances, and it's nice to get a win at home, and hopefully build off this.”
The Barons outshot the Mustangs 42-22 in the game.
They're back in action Saturday night, hosting the Camrose Kodiaks at 8:00 at the Casman Centre, with pre-game radio coverage at 7:45 on Country 93.3.
Country 93.3 3 stars:
3. Scott Pooley (1 goal, 1 assist)
2. Tanner Jaillet (21 saves, 22 shots)
1. Adam Durkee (1 goal, 1 assist)