SPRUCE GROVE, AB (September 27, 2013) — Ryan Bloom (Calgary, AB) had a four-point night and Kevin Miller (Stony Plain, AB) scored two goals including the game-winner as the Fort McMurray Oil Barons (8-0) made it eight straight wins to start the 2013-14 season with a 4-1 win over the Olds Grizzlys at the AJHL Showcase Weekend in Spruce Grove on Friday afternoon.
Tanner Jaillet made 20 saves on 21 shots to improve his own record to 6-0 to start the season, and lower his goals against average to a nearly microscopic 1.33.
Despite a dominant first period in which the Barons outshot the Grizzlys 14-4, and successfully killed off two extended 5-on-3 power plays, the game remained scoreless until 37 seconds into the middle stanza, when Miller scored his first goal off a scramble at the right side of the Grizzly net, beating a downed Jake Tamagi.
Just over seven minutes later, Miller doubled the team's lead with his second of the night, and the eventual game winner, skating in along the right wing on a two-on-one with Colten Meaver (Edmonton, AB) and firing a shot past Tamagi for a 2-0 lead.
The Grizzlys converted on a power-play at 1:13 of the third on a spinaround wrist shot by Kyle Star to get Olds on the board; but it would be as close as the nominal home side would get.
At the 7:57 mark, Bloom powered his way past the Olds defence to jam two point-blank shots on Tamagi, both of which were saved. But a final rebound came to Bloom at the far post, and his final attempt found the back of the net for a 3-1 MOB lead.
With time winding down in the third, it was Bloom once again corraling the puck, weaving around a multitude of Grizzly defenders into the offensive zone, and sending a long wrist shot into an empty Olds net to seal the deal for the MOB.
The Barons outshot the Grizzlys 28-21 on the night, going 0 for 5 on their powerplay and 7 for 8 on the penalty kill.
The MOB is back in action tomorrow afternoon against the Calgary Mustangs to cap off the Showcase weekend; puck drop is at 1 PM with pre-game coverage starting at 12:45 on Country 93.3.
Country 93.3 3 stars:
1. Kevin Miller (2 goals)
2. Ryan Bloom (2 goals, 2 assists)
3. Tanner Jaillet (20 saves, 21 shots)