FORT MCMURRAY, AB (October 7, 2014) – Captain Jetlan Houcher (Paradise Valley, AB) scored twice and Mitchell Vanderlaan (Hanwell, NB) put up the winner as the Fort McMurray Oil Barons (8-5) came from behind to beat the Lloydminster Bobcats (6-5-1) 4-3 at the Casman Centre on Tuesday night.
A back-and-forth first period saw only one goal, as Bryce Woodward poked home a rebound on the powerplay, with 48 seconds left in the frame.
The second period had a similar start, with each team holding their own during a well-disciplined first half of the period.
It was just past the 12 minute mark when Houcher corralled a loose puck at the Bobcats’ blue line, beat two defenders, and scored his twelfth goal of the season
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But the lead was short lived, as Evan Tschumi tied things up when he tipped home a point shot just under two minutes later.
That helped give Lloydminster the lead in goals (2-1) and shots (24-16) after 40 minutes of play.
In the third, the Barons came out firing, as Trent Lofthouse (Surrey, BC) buried a feed at the top of the crease to tie things up at 2.
But once again, the Bobcats stormed back to take the lead, as Troy Rapuano beat Barons’ starter Zach Fortin (St. Jerome, PQ) 1:18 later.
Over the next 11 minutes, both teams exchanged multiple scoring chances, but to no avail.
That changed with 3:39 left to play, when Houcher took a stretch pass from Taylor Lileikis (Calgary, AB) up the left wing side, walked to the top of the circle, and blasted one over the left shoulder of Bobcats’ goalie Devin Green to tie the game 3-3.
That set the stage for Vanderlaan, who made sure that overtime would not be necessary, back-handing home a loose puck 25 seconds later, giving the Barons a lead they would not relinquish.
Fortin made 32 saves for the win, while Green stopped 23 in the loss.
With the win, the MOB moved into a tie for the division lead with Spruce Grove, though the Saints have a game in hand on the Barons.
The loss ties the Bobcats with Sherwood Park for fourth in the division, but it’s the Bobcats with the game in hand over the Crusaders.
Up next for the Barons, they’re heading south for the Thanksgiving weekend, with games in Drumheller on Friday night, Canmore on Saturday, and Calgary on Sunday afternoon, where they’ll take on the Mustangs.