A fruitful three games in three nights set has the Okotoks Oilers in hot pursuit of a top two-position in the standings.
The Oilers took five of six points on the weekend, recording a 3-2 shootout win at home over the Camrose Kodiaks on Jan. 6, a 4-3 shootout loss in Olds to the Grizzlys the following night and a priceless 2-0 shutout victory over the Lloydminster Bobcats, Jan. 8 at Centennial Arena.
The victory over Camrose was especially meaningful, as the Oilers narrowed the gap between them and the second placed Kodiaks to just six points in the Alberta Junior Hockey League South Division standings with two more matchups between the two rivals yet to come this season.
“In the Camrose game I thought we did a lot of good things,” said Oilers head coach James Poole.. “I think the game could have gone either direction, both teams had a lot of chances.
“It was important to pick up at least an extra point on them. It would have been nice to get the two points clean in regulation, but at least we got a little bit of ground there.”
The Oilers trailed 2-1 in the third period at Centennial Arena, but got a crucial tying marker from Scott Bolland with nine minutes to go. The stalemate culminated in a shootout in which Oiler forwards Derek Bacon and Greg Lamoureux found the back of the net to clinch the victory and give Okotoks a crucial extra point.
Oilers defenceman Matt Maleschuk said it felt good to get the better of their South rivals.
“Every time we play Camrose it feels like a do-or-die playoff game,” Maleschuk said. “It’s usually a pretty chippy game too. so whenever we can rub it in their face, especially in our barn, it’s good.”
The Oilers were unable to take back-to-back victory as they lost in shootouts to a Grizzlys’ squad who always plays Okotoks tough.
“Right off the hop it was a little bit chippy,” Maleschuk said of the Olds tilt.
“There were a couple questionable hits and a few fights here and there, but at the second half of the second period it settled down a little bit, but we’ve got to start finishing teams in regulation.”
The Oilers did just that on Jan. 8, producing one of their most stifling defensive performance of the season in shutting out a very game opponent in Lloydminster, a team with just nine losses on the season and a top-20 Canadian Junior Hockey League ranking to boot.
Bolland said the team’s work on defensive zone coverage during their recent practices paid off against Lloydminster.
“It’s finally clicking now that (in) our systems we know what we’re doing and it’s definitely showing in the game,” said Bolland. “We’re just boxing them out, the defence is hitting and we’re being more aggressive against the points and it seems to be working.”
Poole said the Oilers struggled with the unique Bobcat forecheck in the opening frame.
However, the Oilers asserted themselves in the final 40 minutes..
“I thought we adjusted in the second and third period really well and kept them to the perimeter,” said Poole of his team’s defence. “Even when they did have possession in our zone we kept them to the outside and defensively I thought all of (our blueliners) were pretty solid.”
Bolland scored the game winner with 3:30 to go in the middle stanza off a mad scramble in front of Lloydminster goalie Chase Martin.
“I saw that the goalie was on the other side sliding towards me and I was just about on the goal line and I shot it towards him and it banked off his shoulder and it went in,” said Bolland of his tally. Jon Turk added the insurance marker on quick shot from the slot for his 22nd goal of the year, while netminder Michael Tadjdeh made 29 saves for his second shutout of the season.
The Oilers are fourth in the South Division with 47 points, trailing the Calgary Mustangs by a mere point. Bolland said beating a top North Division Bobcats should do wonders for the Oilers’ confidence as the season heads in to the stretch drive.
“It’s good to know that the group that we have is coming together, gelling and we’re just looking forward to the last 17 games,” he said.
The Oilers bring their ice show to Centennial Arena Jan. 13 when they host the Drayton Valley Thunder at 7 p.m. Okotoks then travels north for another face off with the rival Kodiaks, Jan. 14 at the Encana Arena. For more information go to www.okotoksoilers.com.
