FORT MCMURRAY, AB (November 28, 2013) – Danton Ayotte (Wetaskiwin, AB) scored twice in the first period, and the Fort McMurray Oil Barons (15-12-3) cruised to a 4-1 win over the Grande Prairie Storm.
With the MOB on the powerplay, Mark Drohan (Calgary, AB) one-timed a pass past Liam McLeod just over seven minutes into the first.
Not only did that open up a lead for the MOB, it opened up a barrage of teddy bears, thrown onto the ice by the majority of the 1583 fans in attendance in support of Santas Anonymous.
When the game resumed, the Barons struck less than a minute later, when Ayotte took a feed from Isaac Ceh (Chicago, IL), and beat McLeod short side, extending the lead to 2-0.
And about three minutes after that, Ayotte won a faceoff to himself, spun around, and beat McLeod five-hole, making the lead 3-0, and ending McLeod's night 11 minutes into the first.
The MOB held that three-goal lead until just over five minutes left in the second, when Jarred Toole connected for the Storm, cutting the lead to 3-1.
But that's how the score would stay until the final minute of the game, when Mitchell Vanderlaan (Hanwell, NB) caught a pass streaking through centre, and buried it into the empty Storm net, capping a 4-1 win.
Logan Thompson stopped all 25 shots he faced, playing almost 50 minutes in relief for the Storm.
Meanwhile for the Barons, Zach Fortin (St. Jerome, PQ) made 24 solid saves in the victory.
With the win, the Barons sit two points back of the Sherwood Park Crusaders for third place in the North, with two games in hand on the Cru.
Up next, the two teams battle in a rematch on Saturday night (November 29), once again at the Casman.
Puck drop is set for 8:00, with the pre-game show coming up at 7:45 on KAOS 91.1.
KAOS 91.1 3 Stars:
3. Logan Thompson (25 SV)
2. Zach Fortin (24 SV)
1. Danton Ayotte (2G)
