It wasn't the Fort McMurray Oil Barons' best effort, but they still managed a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Mustangs Saturday night at the Casman Centre. Kevin Miller had three points in the win and goaltender Jesse Gordichuk recorded his first win since Jan. 8.
“I don't think we played as well tonight as we did against Brooks” said Oil Barons head coach and general manager Gord Thibodeau comparing Saturday's game to Friday night's 3-2 loss to the Bandits. “We did some good things to finish. Sloppy game on both sides, but we certainly made it tougher on ourselves once we got up.”
Ryan Bloom got the Oil Barons on the board early, slipping one past Mustangs' goalie Jeff Orser less than 90 seconds in. Adam Durkee would also light the lamp in the first, burying a back-hand pass from Danton Ayotte. The MOB led the game 2-0 heading into the first intermission.
Miller scored his 20th of the season at 5:41 of the second to put the Barons up 3-0 and also assisted on Mitch Byrne's goal later in the period to give the Barons a 4-0 lead after 40 minutes.
“I got rewarded on the scoreboard,” said Miller. “ I can't say it was my best game, but I'm happy with the lucky goal from behind the net because I haven't been scoring that much lately, so I'll take them anyway I can, I guess.”
Calgary would finally get on the board at 10:27 of the third, but the Barons would get the win and improve their record to 39-7-3.
The Oil Barons' next game is Friday night at home against the Sherwood Park Crusaders. Puck drop is at 8 p.m.
Photo credit: Robert Murray/Fort McMurray Today
