RECAP: Hilsendager Goal Lifts Bobcats Past Thunder in Overtime

Daniel Hilsendager's second goal of the 2016-17 season, a drifting wrist shot from the blue line that fooled Drayton Valley Thunder goaltender Parker Tobin, ended tonight's game after 62:13, giving the Lloydminster Bobcats their first home win of the season and their second overall.

With the Bobcats carrying a 2-1 lead in the third period, the Thunder took to the power play with 5:15 to go in regulation. Having gone without a shot on goal in their first attempt on the man advantage, the Thunder wasted no time with this opportunity as Michael Doneff scored his second goal of the season to draw things even at 2-2. Firing a shot from around the faceoff dot, Doneff beat Bobcats goaltender Austin McGrath on the glove hand side, eventually setting up overtime.

Once into the extra frame, both teams traded several chances but ultimately it was the Cats who put it away after Brady Barclay forced a turnover behind Tobin's net, setting up Hilsendager for the game winner. 

 

 

The Bobcats found themselves down early tonight as Thunder forward Michael Cardinal found a loose puck in front of McGrath and made a nice move on the already down goaltender to put in his fifth goal of the season. Assists on the first marker went to Rhett Willcox and Anthony Orubor. The lead lasted for much of the first period before the Bobcats tied it up late.

As the Thunder attempted to break out of their own zone with less than five minutes to play in the opening period, Bobcats forward Wilson Northey came in hard on the forecheck and forced a turnover that ended up on the stick of Tre Doyon. Doyon stepped into the slot and blasted a wrist shot past Tobin to pull the game even at 1-1. Doyon's night came to an end early in the second period after a fight with Thunder captain Braden Jakubowski.

 

 

The two teams battled through a scoreless second period, with the Bobcats failing to strike on two power play opportunities, setting the stage for a decisive third period. An early man advantage in the third yielded nothing for the Thunder, and the home side took the lead near the midway point of the period as Jamieson Ree put home a one-timer for his first of the year. The assist on the goal went to Wilson Northey.

 

 

The Bobcats lead lasted all of 6:16 before Doneff knotted the game at 2-2, setting the stage for Hilsendager's overtime winner.

Austin McGrath picked up his second win of the season for the Bobcats, stopping 29 of 31 shots, while Tobin turned aside 20 of 23.

The Cats won't return to action until Saturday, November 5th as they head to Whitecourt for a contest against the Wolverines before a showdown in Fort Saskatchewan on November 6th against the Sherwood Park Crusaders. The next game at the Civic Centre will be on Wednesday, November 9th versus the Wolverines.