FORT MCMURRAY, AB (December 13, 2014) – Zach Fortin (St. Jérome, PQ) stopped 18 shots, and the Fort McMurray Oil Barons (21-14-3) warpped up their home schedule of 2014 with a 2-0 win over Sherwood Park.
The teams picked up right where they left off last night in terms of the rough play, with no goals but 31 PIMs in the opening period.
The Crusaders appeared to beat Fortin partway through the period, but the late shot was ruled to be made after the referee's whistle, and was waved off.
In the second, captain Jetlan Houcher (Paradise Valley, AB) dropped the gloves with Tanner Laderoute, after already getting into a dust-up with Luke Kempf back in the first.
The Barons then got on the board just over eight minutes in with their fourth powerplay goal of the weekend, when Brett McNeil's (Halifax, NS) point shot deflected off the post past goaltender Zac Klassen.
Three minutes later, Chris McKay of the Crusaders was ejected after a hit from behind on Barons defenceman Mark Drohan (Calgary, AB), that forced the defenceman to miss the rest of the game.
Just under five minutes into the third, Luc Lalor (St. Albert, AB) scored his first goal of the year in his second game back since being re-acquired by the MOB during the week.
Aside from the goal, the teams combined for 40 PIMs the rest of the way, finishing the game with 138 PIMs combined.
Klassen made 37 saves in a stellar performance for the Cru, while Fortin picked up his third shutout of the season, and first since September 12.
With the win, the Barons pull into a tie with Lloydminster for second place in the North division, though the Bobcats have two games in hand on the Barons.
Up next, the Barons play their final two games of 2014 on the road next weekend, with stops in Olds on Friday night and Camrose on Saturday (December 19-20).
Both games are at 7:00 – you can catch the action starting with a 6:45 pregame show on KAOS 91.1.
KAOS 91.1 3 Stars:
3. Wil Tomchuk (1A)
2. Zach Fortin (18sv SO)
1. Luc Lalor (1G)