Oil Barons Game Recap (Jan 17 & 18)

Fort McMurray dropped both their games this weekend on their lone road trip of January. Despite the losses, the MOB narrowed the gap to three points between themselves and the Lloydminster Bobcats for third in the North Division. The Oil Barons also stay nine points up on the Bonnyville Pontiacs for a final playoff spot in the North. 

It was an exciting game at JDA Place, which ultimately saw the Oil Barons fall 5-4 in overtime against Whitecourt. Danny Akkouche led the offence with a pair of goals, while nine different players found their way onto the scoresheet. Fort McMurray opened the scoring midway through the first period. A broken play saw the puck come to Cade Petersen in the slot, and the rookie from Sherwood Park snapped home a wrist shot for his fifth goal of the season. Whitecourt pressed for the equalizer, including on a 5-on-3 power-play that lasted for 1:27, but Vincent Filion and the MOB held the fort through the opening period. Whitecourt found the equalizer early in the second period. An unfortunate bounce went away from Shawn Eliav, and Dwayne Jean Jr. scored a highlight reel goal going through his legs to tie the game at one. Fort McMurray answered back shortly afterwards. Leo Adam forced a turnover and Ryan Arnold found Akkouche wide open at the top of the crease, where he tucked the puck past Zac Onyskiw. Once again Whitecourt tied the game in the second period. Jalen Bianchet stepped out from behind Fort McMurray’s net and rifled a shot through Filion, for his 14th goal of the season. But less than a minute later, the Oil Barons restored their lead. It all started with Leo Adams, who made an excellent intercept at his own blue-line before picking out Akkouche in behind the defence. The MOB captain fired the puck over the shoulder of Onyskiw for his second goal of the game, and his team leading 15th of the season, to make it 3-2 Fort McMurray heading into the second intermission. With about six and a half minutes to go, the Oil Barons earned some insurance. Mason Finley found a wide open Carter Schmidt in the slot, who put home a one-timer for his 14th goal of the season. However, the Wolverines quickly responded. Off a blocked point shot, Stefan Serediak steered home a rebound to make it a 4-3 game. Then, just over a minute later, Dylan Ruptash forced a turnover and set up Bianchet for the game tying goal, stunning the MOB. The game went to overtime and it didn’t last long. 18 seconds in, Jean Jr found a wide open Travis Verbeek, and the man from Flesherton, Ontario deposited the puck into a wide open net giving the Wolverines a 5-4 victory in the extra frame.

Saturday saw the Oil Barons fall behind early, and they were unable to make a comeback. Maxim Shushkov opened the scoring for Bonnyville, beating a screened Gavin Melcher, who was making his Oil Barons debut, with a wrist shot over the glove. The MOB then gave up their first shorthanded goal of the season before the end of the first. After a turnover at Bonnyville’s blue-line, Kyle Kalamaras wired a shot off the pad of Melcher, with the rebound sliding to Brent Hoshowski who made it 2-0. A penalty-filled second period saw the Oil Barons kill off a lengthy 5-on-3 power-play and they thought they would get out of the period unscathed. However, with 13 seconds remaining, the Pontiacs connected on a pretty passing play for a power-play goal, courtesy of Slade Firkus, making it 3-0 Bonnyville. Fort McMurray flew out of the gates to start the third period. Less than two minutes in, Carter Schmidt set up Alexis Beaulac for his fourth goal of the season, to cut the Pontiac lead to 3-1. Then the Oil Barons struck on a 4-on-3 power-play to make it a one goal game. Ryan Arnold finished off a tic-tac-toe play with Justin Dumais and Danny Akkouche, for his 14th goal of the year. Fort McMurray pressed for an equalizer but a couple of stellar stops from Cody Butikis, a crossbar and an empty net goal from Myles Gauld sealed the game for Bonnyville.

The Oil Barons wrap up the month of January with a trio of games at Centerfire Place. It all starts on Wednesday, when the Grande Prairie Storm come to town, in a battle with potential playoff implications.