SPRUCE GROVE, AB (November 15, 2014) – The Fort McMurray Oil Barons (12-11-3) snatched a big win away from a North division rival, beating the Spruce Grove Saints 4-3 in a shootout on Saturday night.
The Saints got things started in the first, when Josh Harris got on the board with three-and-a-half minutes left to play in the frame.
The Barons started the second strong, when Shawn Weber (Lloydminster, AB) tipped home a Salvatore Scalise (Calgary, AB) point shot, tying it at 1 just over two minutes in.
But the Saints quickly responded, when Jarid Hauptman tipped a shot past Jayden Sittler (Red Deer, AB), to put Spruce Grove back up by 1.
That’s where things stayed until late in the third, when defenceman Macklin Pichonsky appeared to ice the win, putting the Saints up 3-1 with under three minutes to play.
But that’s when the Barons turned up the heat.
A minute-forty after that, Jetlan Houcher (Paradise Valley, AB) scored his league-leading 19th goal on the season, putting a rebound past Matthew Murray to bring the Barons after that.
Then with under a minute left, Isaac Farrah was sent off for tripping, giving the Barons a 6-on-4 advantage after they pulled Sittler from the net.
With only 24 seconds left, Logan Franz (Medicine Hat, AB) found Trent Lofthouse (Surrey, BC), who beat Murray to tie the game 3-3, sending it into overtime.
After a back and forth extra frame, the teams were still tied, with the Barons holding the edge in shots 29-28.
Choosing to shoot first, Colton Leiter scored for the Saints in round one, while Houcher was denied.
In the second round, Sittler denied Brandon Biro, while Lofthouse scored a beautiful between-the-legs goal to tie up the shootout.
With Harris unable to beat Sittler in the third round, Franz scored to complete the comeback, giving the Barons their first win against Spruce Grove this season.
Sittler made 25 saves for the win, while Morrison picked up 26 in the losing effort.
With the win, the Barons extend their lead for fourth place in the division to three points over Drayton Valley, and trail third-place Lloydminster by five points.
Up next for the Barons, the first of three straight games against the Whitecourt Wolverines to finish up the road trip on Sunday afternoon (November 16).
Puck drop is at 2:30, with the pre-game show underway at 2:15 on KAOS 91.1
KAOS 91.1 3 Stars:
3. Trent Lofthouse (1G/1SOG)
2. Jayden Sittler (25sv/28sh)
1. Logan Franz (1A/1SOG)