SHERWOOD PARK, AB (January 31, 2015) – The Sherwood Park Crusaders took a lead in the second period, and ran away with it in the third, beating the Fort McMurray Oil Barons (26-20-4) 5-0 on Saturday night.
The two teams played a tight, disciplined first period that finished with Sherwood Park leading in shots 13-6 and both sides off the scoreboard.
In the second, the Crusaders struck 39 seconds in, when Arthur Gordon finished off a 2-on-1 rush.
Almost exactly ten minutes later, Ryan Kruper got behind the Barons defence, beating Brett Lewchuk (Saskatoon, SK) for the 2-0 lead.
Though the Barons held the Crusaders off the scoreboard in the first half of the third, they were unable to mount an offensive response.
With about eight-and-a-half left in the game, Cole Gammer extended the lead to 3-0.
After Tyler Maltby converted for the 4-0 lead, the Barons got into some penalty trouble, going down two men.
Dane Phaneuf then iced the victory, scoring on the man advantage with 34 second to play.
Along with the win, Sherwood Park goaltender Zac Klassen picked up his second shutout of the season.
With the loss, the Barons remain four points back of Lloydminster for second in the North, while the Crusaders move within one point of Fort McMurray, though the MOB and the Bobcats have two games in hand on Sherwood Park.
Up next for the Barons, they finish up the weekend road trip in Drayton Valley, with a 2:30 puck drop on Sunday afternoon.
You can catch the game on KAOS 91.1, starting with the pregame show at 2:15.
KAOS 91.1 3 Stars:
3. Dane Phaneuf (1G/1A)
2. Zac Klassen (shutout)
1. Tyler Maltby (1G/1A)