SHERWOOD PARK, AB (Sep. 23, 2012) — The Fort McMurray Oil Barons (2-4) rebounded from an early one goal deficit, but fell just short of rebounding from a subsequent two-goal hole, in a narrow 3-2 road loss to the Sherwood Park Crusaders (3-3) on Sunday afternoon.
The first period tested goaltender Tanner Jaillet (Red Deer, AB), as the Crusaders were allowed multiple scoring chances in close range to the MOB net. On only one, however, could they convert, when Dillon Massie's centring pass from the corner found Bowen Croft alone at the top of the crease to jam in a one-timer and give the home side a 1-0 lead.
Adam Durkee (Lafayette, CO) soon replied for the visitors later in the period with his second junior A goal from an incredibly sharp angle at the bottom of the left-wing faceoff circle, beating NHL-drafted netminder Matt Tomkins.
The second period belonged to Sherwood Park, however, as they outshot the Barons 14-9 and added two more goals from Stefan Bazar and newcomer Carter Page.
“Our D started very poor,” head coach Gord Thibodeau said. “The other guys played well, but when you're going with [five] D, unfortunately you don't have an option to replace them – you've got to hope they get their game back. I thought we did a good job of bouncing back as the game went on.”
The performance by Jaillet was nonetheless stellar, as he turned aside 36 of 39 Sherwood Park shots, earning first star honours despite the loss.
“Tanner gave us a good strong game, which is what we needed,” said Thibodeau. “But once again, a lot of scoring chances and not much opportunity to bury, and that's what comes back and bites you.”
“They didn't get out of their end for six minutes, but again [we] didn't finish chances.”
A comeback entered the realm of possibility just under seven minutes into the third, when rookie Parker Evans-Campbell (High River, AB) scored his first junior A goal on a wrist shot from the right-wing faceoff circle.
But Tomkins held on late to earn his team the one-goal victory.
“There's no fault with the effort,” Thibodeau emphasized. “I'm very pleased with their effort today. We kept finding a way to fight back.
“The execution has to get better, and that's something you continually hit home with.”
Country 93.3 3 stars:
3. Parker Evans-Campbell (1 goal, 1 assist)
2. Carter Page (1 game-winning goal)
1. Tanner Jaillet (36 saves, 39 shots)