A three goal first period made the difference tonight for the Lloydminster Bobcats as they skated to a big 4-1 victory over the Canmore Eagles Friday night at the Civic Centre, on opening night of Bobcats Parents Weekend.
The Bobcats, who averaged less than two goals per game coming into tonight's contest, enjoyed an offensive outburst while the normally high-flying Eagles squad was kept to just a lone marker. Austin McGrath was stellar between the pipes for the Cats, stopping 39 of 40 shots faced en route to his third win of the season.
After having his ten-game point streak come to an end on Saturday night against Drumheller, Bobcats forward Zach Kaiser got right back into it in the first period as he beat Eagles netminder Ryan Bontorin high glove side to give the Cats a 1-0 lead with his fifth goal of the season. Assists on the goal went to Brady Barclay and Austin Ehret.
. @LloydBobcats goal! Zach Kaiser with a beauty! 1-0 Cats @FountainTire pic.twitter.com/PkhKMSpklO
— Bobcats Replay (@bobcatsreplay) November 19, 2016
Minutes later, Scott Ivey added to the lead as he took a feed from linemate Zach Webb and put home his first goal in a Bobcats uniform, in his first game played since November 9th against Whitecourt. Chasetan Braid chipped in with the secondary assist, giving he and Webb points in two consecutive games.
. @LloydBobcats goal! Zach Kaiser with a beauty! 1-0 Cats @FountainTire pic.twitter.com/PkhKMSpklO
— Bobcats Replay (@bobcatsreplay) November 19, 2016
Before the period came to a close, Caden Benson forced a neutral ice turnover and busted into Canmore territory, throwing a backhand on Bontorin that popped up into the air while a racing Wilson Northey followed up the play and swatted it in to make it a 3-0 lead with less than a minute before the intermission. The goal was Northey's first AJHL marker in his 14th contest, with Kaiser picking up an assist in addition to Benson.
. @LloydBobcats goal! ?? @NortheyWilson 3-0 Cats VS Eagles at the end of the 1st. @FountainTire pic.twitter.com/97HG786ds6
— Bobcats Replay (@bobcatsreplay) November 19, 2016
Canmore would strike back with one in the second, giving the Cats a two goal lead into the third, but a breakaway beauty from defenceman Nolan Carothers sealed the game away at 4-1. The goal was Carothers' first in a Bobcats uniform, with assists going to Kaiser and Kobe Walker. With the primary assist on the play, Walker extended his current point streak to six games.
. @LloydBobcats goal! ?? @NortheyWilson 3-0 Cats VS Eagles at the end of the 1st. @FountainTire pic.twitter.com/97HG786ds6
— Bobcats Replay (@bobcatsreplay) November 19, 2016
McGrath had a stellar performance in net for the Bobcats, and special teams played a factor as Canmore looked dangerous at times on a pair of power plays, but the Cats kept the unit off the board, Conversely, Lloydminster was 0/1 on the man advantage.
Lloydminster now turns its attention to the Calgary Canucks, who come to the Civic Centre for a 7:30 showdown tomorrow night.