After a two-week layoff, the Okotoks Junior A Oilers picked up right where they left off.
The Oilers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven series with the Calgary Mustangs in the second round of the Alberta Junior Hockey League playoffs after winning 5-1 and 7-1 at the Centennial Arena on consecutive nights last weekend.
With 42 powerplays awarded through the first two games, both coaches expressed displeasure with how the series is being decided by special teams.
“We’re not liking the way the games are getting called,” Oilers coach James Poole said. “It’s turned into just a special teams series. I think we’d much rather just play hockey out there.”
After having scored 20 goals in a three-game sweep of the Olds Grizzlys to earn the right to play the Oilers, the Mustangs have been held to two goals in the first two games.
Poole credited his team’s special teams prowess for keeping the South Division’s fourth seed in check.
“Our penalty kill has been outstanding,” he said.
The Oilers got their first taste of playoff action on Saturday night at the Centennial Arena.
Despite dominating play early, the Oilers found themselves down 1-0 after Ryan Wilkinson gave the Mustangs the lead on the powerplay.
Fortunately for the locals, Ben Gamache evened the score with his first of the playoffs just five minutes later.
Over the next 40 minutes, the Oilers seized control of the game and at one time outshot the Mustangs 22-9.
A large credit goes to Jonathan Turk, who scored twice to put Okotoks up 3-1 with 17 minutes remaining in the game.
“(I’ve) just been getting some lucky bounces, getting lots of shots on net. The whole team is playing good so it’s working out for me,” Turk said.
Kyle Reynolds and Michael Brown would also add third-period markers to give the Oilers a 5-1 victory and send the 1,101 in attendance home happy.
Michael Tadjdeh, who was appointed the playoff starter by Poole, made good on his first taste of AJHL playoff action.
The veteran of the Western Hockey League made 19 saves for the win in his playoff debut.
Standout goaltender Jay Deo took the loss for the Mustangs after allowing five goals on 33 shots.
The Oilers advantage on special teams was a major turning point in the victory.
Okotoks scored twice on eight man advantages while allowing only one goal on 11 penalty kills.
The Mustangs sought to rebound the next night at the Centennial Arena in Game 2 and they dominated the first 20 minutes.
Although Calgary had the South Division champions on their heels they were unable to beat Tadjdeh.
Of his 15 first period saves the Okotoks goaltender made several highlight-reel stops keeping the game scoreless going into the first intermission.
Poole indicated his goaltender was the best player on the ice in the opening frame.
“Tadjdeh was the difference that really kept the game even,” he said.
“(He) definitely saved the game for us. It could’ve gone the opposite way in the first period,” Turk added.
The second period saw the Oilers find their legs and take control of the game and the series.
Just seconds into the period, Reynolds burst down the wing and fired a shot over the outstretched arm of Deo to make it 1-0.
Nolan Huysmans, Turk and Gamache would add goals within five minutes of each other later in the period to take a stranglehold on the game.
Chase McMurphy did bring the Mustangs to within three but Alex Kromm, a former Mustang who was traded to Okotoks in late December for forward Jarrett Zentner, scored to make 5-1 just nine seconds before the period was set to expire.
With the result hardly in doubt, the Oilers kept attacking.
Houston Hazelaar and Gamache added goals to cap Okotoks’ 7-1 win.
With three goals in the first two games, Gamache has been one of Okotoks’ most important players in the series.
Despite being banged-up through the end of the regular season, the Oilers co-captain typically shines at this time of year.
“Playoff time he is the player that will make you successful because he will put his body on the line,” Poole said. “He’s just doing everything for us.”
Tadjdeh made 31 saves in goal for the Oilers in the win while Deo allowed seven goals on 20 shots before eventually being relieved by back-up Bryce Halverson.
The Mustangs’ powerplay was ineffective for the second straight game recording only one goal on 14 opportunities.
The Oilers scored two goals with the man advantage for the second consecutive game.
With the amount of powerplays surrendered by the Oilers, Poole said his team will seek a more disciplined approach as the series goes on regardless of how tightly the games are called.
Mustangs coach David Haas said he was not pleased with the way his team’s offensive attack has stalled through the first two games.
While conceding both teams have spent significant time in the penalty box, he said the South Division champions haven’t exactly adhered to the rules.
“They could virtually get a call every shift out there with the hacking and whacking. Not a lot of it got called and it gets frustrating for our guys,” Haas said. “They slowed us down again tonight.”
However, both sides have been reprimanded for taking shots at each other.
A particular target for the Mustangs has been Reynolds – the AJHL’s leading scorer.
“We wish they’d watch a little bit closer. They are taking some liberties with him,” Poole said.
Haas explained his team is not afraid of the Oilers and will continue to respond to any perceived “cheap shots”.
“We’re not going to back down, especially in their rink,” he said. “I’m old school that way. I won’t tell my guys to turn the other cheek about that kind of stuff. They want to mix it up, we’ll mix it up.”
The series will now shift to Calgary. Game 3 was played last night (March 8) at Father David Bauer and Game 4 will go tonight (March 9) also at Father Bauer at 7 p.m.
If necessary, the Oilers will host the Mustangs on Friday at the Centennial Arena for Game 5 of their series. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
If needed, Game 6 would be played in Calgary Sunday at 2 p.m. and Game 7 is scheduled for March 15 at the Centennial Arena at 7 p.m.
To keep track of the Oilers go to www.westernwheel.com or www.ajhl.ab.ca
