FORT MCMURRAY, AB (December 12, 2014) – The Fort McMurray Oil Barons (20-14-3) scored three times on the powerplay, beating the Sherwood Park Crusaders 6-3 on home ice Friday night.
Sherwood Park got on the board first, when Tyler Maltby scored on a powerplay 7:49 into the opening period.
But the Barons would convert on a powerplay of their own, when Adam Durkee (Nederland, CO) beat Zac Klassen to tie it 1-1 through 20 minutes.
In the second, the offences for both teams came alive.
Logan Franz (Medicine Hat, AB) banged home a rebound for the Barons' second straight powerplay goal, and a 2-1 lead.
About three minutes later Ben Sowa converted for the Crusaders, followed by Dane Phaneuf on the powerplay just past the halfway point of the second, giving Sherwood Park a 3-2 lead.
But the MOB rattled off three straight goals to end the second, starting when Trent Lofthouse (Surrey, BC) poked a puck through Klassen's five-hole with 4:11 to play.
Less than two minutes later, the Barons converted for the third time with the man advantage, when a pinching Mark Drohan (Calgary, AB) one-timed it past Klassen for the 4-3 lead.
And 1:18 after that, Jetlan Houcher's (Paradise Valley, AB) shot from the slot deflected off a defender's stick and in, giving the MOB a 5-3 lead after 40.
In the third, with Crusaders backup Josh Mudryk in the game, Durkee's second goal of the night iced the 6-3 win.
But it was overshadowed by a chippy period, that saw the teams combine for 106 PIMs in the frame.
Klassen and Mudryk combined for 31 saves on the evening, while Brett Lewchuk (Saskatoon, SK) picked up 33 saves for the win.
With the win, the Barons jump ahead of the Crusaders for third place in the North, with one game in hand.
Up next, a rematch between the two teams at the Casman Centre on Saturday night at 8:00, with the pre-game show live on KAOS 91.1 at 7:45.
KAOS 91.1 3 stars:
3. Trent Lofthouse (1G/2A)
2. Luc Lalor (2A)
1. Jetlan Houcher (1G/2A)