The Fort McMurray Oil Barons and Spruce Grove Saints collided for a fifth time this season Friday night. With the two teams splitting the first four meetings this season, it was the Saints who took the season series advantage with a 2-0 win over the MOB.
The shutout loss was just the second time this season the Oil Barons (22-17-8) had been held off the scoreboard.
The Barons weathered the early storm from the Saints (29-14-2) by escaping the first period with the game still scoreless despite being out shot 12-4.
Chris Curr was making his sixth straight start for the MOB and made 31 saves in the game and gave the Barons a chance to win.
The Saints opened the scoring 2:03 into the middle frame when Seth Fyten tucked in a shot under the arm of Curr from in tight. The Saints doubled their lead at 8:54 of the period when Tanner Hickey’s point shot beat a screened Curr to make it 2-0.
The Barons fought hard and tested Matthew Davis throughout the game. Jesse Burchart had a partial breakaway that was stopped in the second period and in the third, Ryan Conroy was denied on a shorthanded breakaway.
Davis made 19 saves to earn his fourth shutout of the year.
The Barons did get one by Davis late in the third period when Owen Kelly blasted a shot into an open net. The goal was immediately waved off for goalie interference as two Barons players were crossed up with Davis at the side of the goal.
The loss was the third in a row for the MOB and fourth in their last five games. The Barons will look to finish up their road trip on a winning note when they take on the Sherwood Park Crusaders Saturday night. Pre-game show is at 6:45 p.m. on Country 93.3.
Written by: Taylor Pope, mymcmurray.com
Photo by: Dan Lines