For the fourth straight game, the Lloydminster Bobcats headed to the third period in a tie, however, the Brooks Bandits were able to pull away in the final twenty minutes in a 3-1 victory Friday night at the Civic Centre.
Hosting the 2019 RBC Cup hosts for the only time this season, the Bobcats gave the league leading Bandits plenty to deal with but didn’t have quite enough in the tank.
The Cats were able to jump out in front during the opening frame.
Bobcat’s forward Chance Adrian scored his third goal of the season when he jammed a loose puck past Brooks’ netminder Pierce Charleson.
Leading 1-0 after one period, a late penalty carried a Bandit’s power-play into the second frame, which Brooks converted on.
Their captain Nathan Plessis found the back of the net behind Curtis Meger to tie the game 1-1.
Then in the third the Bandits continued to pressure the Cats.
Goals from Simon Boyko and Arnaud Vachon gave Brooks a 3-1 lead which they would not relinquish.
Brooks went on to outshoot Lloydminster 39-26 in the game, while the Cats went 0 for 4 on the power-play, while the Bandits went 2 for 4.
The schedule does not get much easier for the Bobcats as they get set to host the Bonnyville Pontiacs Saturday night at the Civic Centre. Puck drop is at 7:30.