Fort McMurray Oil Barons vs Lloydminster Bobcats Friday Oct. 25th, 2019
Written by: Tyler Campbell
After a 9 day break, and playing their first game at home in 17 days, the Lloydminster Bobcats were back in action Friday night at the Centennial Civic Centre against the Fort McMurray Oil Barons. And through the first 40 minutes it was anyone?s game, 2-2 entering the 3rd with 1:32 left on a man advantage. Unfortunately for the Cats they weren?t able to capitalize on that power play and the game got away from them as the Oil Barons took the first of a weekend set by a score of 4-2.
The Bobcats opened the scoring literally at the end of the first period on the power play as Kaeden Tenkoppel raced up ice in the dying seconds, made a good pass to Nolan Coventry to gain the zone, and then simply drove the net where Coventry found him for the tip in and a 1-0 Bobcats lead. They would expand the lead to two once again on the power play as Chance Adrian was stopped, but Tanner Mack put home the rebound and things were looking good for the Cats. Former Bobcat Hunter Lamb would get that one back a little over two minutes later at the tail end of an Oil Barons power play to make it 2-1, and then Michael Hodge would cash on a bit of a broken play at the 8:00 minute mark of the 2nd to make it 2-2. After two big penalty kills in the first half of the 3rd, Hunter Lamb would snipe the game winner at 10:18, which was followed by a Michael Hodge insurance goal with 17:10 to play.
Head coach Nigel Dube was disappointed with some of the penalties which killed the Cats momentum in the game. ?We talked about penalties and what that does at times, and probably two unnecessary and undisciplined penalties that changed the tide in the game.? One bright spot for the Cats on the evening was the power play, going 2 for 5. Coach Dube had been going with two defencemen on their setup prior to last night, but made the switch to four forwards. ?I had gone back through the video from our first 15 games and just looking to create more offence, the additions of Kaluski and Morrow too, and we changed our formula a little bit on it to have more puck possession and shot opportunity.?
Cats will look to get that one back against the Oil Barons tonight at the Civic Centre. Puck drops at 7:30, and as always if you can?t make it to the rink, Shane Tomayer and myself will have the broadcast starting at 7:15 on Hockey TV and also on the MixLR app.