Despite a furious third period comeback, the Lloydminster Bobcats came up just short in a 4-3 loss to the Sherwood Park Crusaders Friday night in Sherwood Park.
The Bobcats scored three unanswered third period goals but were unable to find the equalizer as they fell five points back of the Cru for fifth in the North Division.
Later in the first period, the Crusaders were able to get on the board first when Dylan Stewart put home a loose puck in the crease past Cat’s netminder Bailey Brkin.
Sherwood Park then added to their lead late in the second frame when Stewart set up Ryan Cox on a 2-on-1 to extend the Cru’s advantage to 2-0.
Early in the third, Sherwood Park added two more goals to their lead, going up 4-0 before the Bobcats turned things around.
Back-to-back power play goals from Connor Odelein and Tucker Scantlebury trimmed the lead in half, before Zach Kaiser cut the deficit to 4-3 with 10:03 left in the period.
However, despite some late opportunities, that is as close as the Cats would get.
In the end, Sherwood Park outshot Lloydminster 41-34.
Both teams scored a pair of power-play goals with the Cats going 2 for 7 and the Crusaders finishing 2 for 3.
Next up for the Bobcats is a Sunday afternoon contest against the Grand Prairie Storm. Puck drop is at 2:30 from the Civic Centre.