Make it three straight wins for the Lloydminster Bobcats.
Hosting the Fort McMurray Oil Barons Saturday night at the Centennial Civic Centre, the Bobcats wrapped-up their season series with the MOB with a 3-1 win.
Playing their second game in as many nights, and third game in their last four days, the Bobcats found themselves hemmed in their own zone during the first period, but Lloydminster’s goalie Bailey Brkin helped them withstand the early Fort McMurray pressure.
Brkin denied all 11 shots he faced in the opening frame to keep the game scoreless after twenty minutes.
It appeared the game was going to be scoreless after two periods of play as well, however, Zach Kaiser had other ideas.
With just 46 seconds remaining in the period, Kaiser put home a loose puck in the Fort McMurray crease for his 23rd goal of the season.
Once the final frame got underway though, it didn’t take long for the Oil Barons to respond.
Just 49 seconds into the period, a deflected puck found its way on to the stick of Merritt Oszytko on the Bobcats goal-line, who tapped it into the open cage.
With the score still 1-1 approaching the midway point of the third, the Bobcats would head to their fifth power-play of the night.
On the man-advantage, Braydon Jenkins walked into the slot and picked his spot top-shelf with a wrist-shot to restore the Bobcats lead.
Lloydminster then managed to hold on to their 2-1 lead until Kaiser secured the victory with an empty net goal in the dying seconds.
The empty-net goal completed a four goal weekend for the Orangeville, ON product, after scoring a pair of goals in Drayton Valley on Friday, and gives him eight goals in his last six games.
In goal, Brkin stopped 33 of the 34 shots he faced. Fort McMurray goalie Chis Curr made 22 saves on 24 shots.
In the special teams battle, Lloydminster went 1 for 5 on the power-play, while The MOB finished 0 for 3.
The Bobcats will now have the week off before resuming their schedule Saturday night in Bonnyville.
