Robert Murray, Fort McMurray Today
The Fort McMurray Oil Barons came within a few inches of securing a weekend sweep at home, but were unable to seal the deal, losing in a shootout to the Sherwood Park Crusaders Sunday to earn three out of a possible four points on the weekend.
At the Casman Centre Sunday afternoon, the Oil Barons came up just short against the Crusaders, falling by a score of 4-3 in a shootout.
The MOB were continually forced to play catchup and couldn’t comeback in the shootout as Nicholas Jones scored the winner for the Crusaders.
After Ryan Kruper scored the only goal of the first period, Andrew Taverner doubled the Cru’s lead less than five minutes into the second period.
That seemed to wake up the Barons as Mitchell Byrne scored to cut the lead in half. A blast from the point by blue liner Curtis Lewington tied the game up less than three minutes into the final frame but the MOB would fall behind again, giving up the lead less than five minutes later as Nicholas Jones found a way to get the puck past Tanner Jaillet.
A goal just over a minute later from John Teets levelled the game but it was not to be on Sunday as Jones and MacTavish were the only players to score in the shootout, sending the MOB to their first loss in extra time at home all season.
Thibodeau called it “selfish hockey” and “very individual” following the game.
With three games left in their season, the Oil Barons sit three points behind the Spruce Grove Saints with a game in hand. The MOB can still mathematically catch the Saints but would need some help in order to accomplish the feat.
The Fort McMurray Oil Barons host the Drayton Valley Thunder in the final regular season home game of the year on Tuesday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Casman Centre.
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