The Fort McMurray Oil Barons started strong Friday night in Canmore as they came out of the first period with a lead but the wheels fell off in the final 40 minutes as the Eagles scored five unanswered goals to defeat the MOB 6-2.
A penalty filled affair saw both teams marching to the penalty box with over half the game played on special teams.
The MOB (16-10-6) would open the scoring 12:28 into the game when Tyson Scott came off the half wall and from the slot buried a shot past Logan Dyck. Liam Izyk picked up the assist on Scott’s 10th of the year and second as an Oil Baron.
The Eagles (17-12-3) would tie things up 1-1 on a powerplay when Mark Drohan’s point shot beat a screened Chris Curr at 15:14 of the period.
The Barons would respond on a powerplay of their own 1:33 later when Scott broke in behind the Eagles defence. His initial shot was stopped but Nicholas McCarry was there to chip in the rebound to give the MOB the 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.
After seven powerplays in the first period, the parade to the penalty box continued in the second as the two teams played a combined 1:51 of five on five hockey in the opening 11 minutes of the period.
The Eagles would tie the game on a powerplay just past the mid-way point when Max Giangualano stuffed in a loose puck in the crease.
Kazu Prevost and Michael Spafford scored 36 seconds apart later in the period to give the Eagles their first lead of the game and they never looked back.
Tian Rask opened up a 5-2 lead 47 seconds into the third period before Giangualano notched his second of the night to give the Eagles a convincing 6-2 win.
Canmore swept the season series with the MOB winning all three meetings and outscoring the MOB 16-8.
Curr made 35 saves for the MOB in the loss and the MOB went 1-7 on the powerplay while the Eagles finished 2-9.
The Barons will continue their road trip Saturday in Okotoks against the Oilers. You can catch the action on Country 93.3 beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m. with Taylor Pope.
Written by: Taylor Pope, mymcmurray.com
Photo by: Dan Lines