Fort McMurray finished their pre-Christmas schedule taking seven of a possible eight points. With the results, they find themselves in second place overall, three points behind Whitecourt for first and three points ahead of Lloydminster in third.
The Oil Barons saw a third period lead slip away, as they fell 3-2 in overtime to Drumheller. Leo Adams and Justin Dumais got the goals for the MOB, while Nathan Claydon turned aside 28 shots in the loss. After a spirited fight between Dustin Good and Nick McLennan, Fort McMurray used the momentum to strike first. Cade Petersen shovelled the puck to Leo Adams, and the Gander, Newfoundland product smashed it home for his seventh goal of the season. The MOB made it 2-0 less than a minute later. While on the power-play, Ethan Makokis fed Justin Dumais, who wired a shot to the back of the net. Ryan Arnold also picked up an assist on the play to extend his point streak. However, the Dragons would battle back. After a scoreless second period, Drumheller capitalized on a turnover early in the third. Jase Johnstone pushed the puck to a wide open Bradley Gallo, and the Dragons leading goal scorer cut the Fort McMurray lead to 2-1. Drumheller tied the game with less than four minutes remaining in the period. A point shot from Noa Halat was tipped by Jackson DeGraves, and the puck slipped through the five hole of Claydon. The game headed to overtime, which lasted about 90 seconds. Tristan Payne carried the puck down the right wing, centered for Jacob Goudreau, who tapped home the game winner.
Saturday was a wild game in Olds. Despite the fatigue of a long road trip and conceding a 2-0 lead, the Oil Barons came from behind to win 5-4. Ethan Makokis opened the scoring for the MOB. After immense pressure in the offensive zone, Dumais left the puck with Makokis, and the rookie from St Paul, Alberta snapped it short side for his third goal of the season. Ryan Arnold also picked up an assist, stretching his point streak to 20 games. About two minutes later, Fort McMurray struck again. Leo Adams picked the pocket of a defender and Drew Freer set up Cade Petersen for a tap-in, doubling the MOB’s advantage. However, penalties kept the Grizzlys in the game. On their third power-play of the first period, a point shot from Brendan Thomas was deflected past Brendan Gee by Presley Kerner, and Olds cut the Oil Barons lead in half. A little more than halfway through the second period, the Grizzlys tied the game. Hubert Larose fired a shot inside the left hand post for his fourth goal of the season. Olds got their first lead of the game shortly after that. Kerner opted to pass instead of racing away on a breakaway, and Jordan Wales sniped a shot off the crossbar and in, making it 3-2 Grizzlys. Fort McMurray halted Olds’ momentum by tying the game before the end of the second period. Arnold raced down the right wing, pushed the puck for Justin Dumais, who slammed it home for one of the Montreal product’s four points on the night. Two minutes into the third period, Olds restored their advantage. A centering feed from Ryland Molde found Wales, and the man from Delta, BC scored his second goal of the night. The Oil Barons turned up the heat midway through the period and they were rewarded. With the top line hemming the Grizzlys in their zone, Dumais threw the puck in front, where Dustin Good tipped it under the crossbar, making it a 4-4 game. Overtime was looming. But with less than a minute to go, Ewan Gillis raced down the right wing. His shot was stopped, but Dumais spun the rebound to Freer in the slot, and the captain fired home the game winner with 45.9 seconds to go.
It is a much needed break for the Oil Barons after finishing a busy month of December with a 6-1-1 record. They will return to action on January 3rd and 4th, when they play host to the Devon Xtreme.
