Story Coming In:
Slow starts have doomed the Oil Barons in their previous two games. Early goals against put Fort McMurray in a hole, which they were unable to recover from. Special teams have also played a factor against the MOB. The penalty kill has given up goals against in four of their last five games, while the power-play hasn’t scored in the last two contests. If there are some bright spots for the Oil Barons, it’s been the play of the Adams-Petersen-Freer line. Since the Christmas break, the line has combined for 31 points and has been Fort McMurray’s most consistent unit. During a stretch where the Oil Barons are seemingly struggling to find chemistry, their second line has been leading by example.
View From Canmore:
The South Division’s top team come rolling into Fort McMurray having won seven of their last nine games. The Eagles have been playing excellent hockey, despite missing their captain for the rest of the season due to injury. Cohen Daoust paces the offence, sitting fourth in the AJHL in points, but Aidan Tkachuk is the man to watch. The Calgary product is on a 14 game point streak, while also being named the Player of the Month for January. While Canmore has the second best offence, they also boast a strong defence. Goaltender Alex Scheiwiller is a big reason for the Eagles giving up the third fewest goals against. Scheiwiller has the most saves, the best save percentage and the third most wins in the AJHL.
Stats Leaders:
Goals: Arnold (26)
Assists: Dumais (42)
Points: Dumais (65)
PIM: Gidney (97)
Goalie: Gee 12-6-2-1, 3.01 GAA, .915 SV%, 1SO
