BONNYVILLE, AB (November 4, 2014) – The Fort McMurray Oil Barons (10-10-3) decisively snapped a four-game losing streak, beating the Bonnyville Pontiacs 5-2 on Tuesday night.
The MOB got off to a quick start, when one of the newest Barons, Logan Franz (Medicine Hat, AB), picked up a loose puck and wired a shot past Reid Kilburn, giving the Barons the lead 1:23 into the first.
Just over ten-and-a-half minutes later, Franz finished off a wrap-around to give the Barons a 2-0 lead after the opening 20 minutes.
In the second, the Barons picked up where they left off.
Mitchell Vanderlaan (Hanwell, NB) picked up his second point of the game, firing a wrist shot from the top of the circle, making it 3-0 Barons, and ending Kilburn’s night.
Though the Pontiacs outshot the Barons in each of the three periods, they were unable to crack the scoresheet through the opening 40 minutes.
In the third, Barons rookie Jordan Xavier (Calgary, AB) created a neutral zone turnover, streaked in all alone, and beat Joey Desrosiers, giving the MOB the 4-0 lead.
And two-and-a-half minutes after that, Jetlan Houcher (Paradise Valley, AB) took a pass from Adam Durkee (Nederland, CO), and snapped one top shelf, extending the Barons lead to 5-0.
Just past the 15 minute mark, Cory Santoro and Kyler Hehn scored 52 seconds apart, bringing the Pontiacs back within three.
But that’s as far as the comeback would go, as the MOB cruised to a 5-2 win.
Zach Fortin (St. Jérome, PQ) made 50 saves for the win, and Brett McNeil (Halifax, NS) joined Vanderlaan and Franz putting up two points on the night.
With the win, the MOB are back in a tie with the Pontiacs for fourth place in the North Division, though Bonnyville has two games in hand.
Up next for the Barons, they host the Sherwood Park Crusaders at the Casman Centre on Saturday night at 8:00.
You can catch the call of the game on KAOS 91.1, with the pre-game show set for 7:45.
KAOS 91.1 3 Stars:
3. Brett McNeil (2A)
2. Logan Franz (2G)
1. Mitch Vanderlaan (1GWG/1A)