Returning home to the Centennial Civic Centre, the Lloydminster Bobcats found themselves in tough against the Grande Prairie Storm in a Wednesday night contest.
Playing the Storm for the sixth and final time this season, the Cats were unable to slow down the high powered Grande Prairie attack in a 6-1 defeat.
Although only outshot 28-25 in the contest, the Bobcats had a hard time converting on their opportunities, while the Storm seemed to make the most of theirs.
Grande Prairie opened the scoring just over eight minutes into the game when former Bobcat’s forward, Zach Webb beat Cat’s goalie Cale Elder.
Not even two minutes later, the Storm stuck again. Jackson Wozniak was the recipient of a fortunate bounce, as the puck wound up on his stick with an open cage to make it 2-0.
Storm leading scorer Vincent Milot-Ouellet then increased the lead to 3-0 late in the period, but the Bobcats did their best to get some momentum back right after.
Only 53 seconds had past since Ouellet’s goal when a big hit by recently signed Bobcat’s rookie, Ben Bygrove led to a offensive zone opportunity for Hunter Lamb, who scored on his own rebound to pull Lloydminster within two.
Trying to trim the lead to just one early in the second on a man-advantage, it was the Storm reversing the script.
Noah Corson broke in on a short-handed breakaway and beat Elder to restore the three-goal advantage.
Last season’s AJHL Rookie of the Year, Zachary Okabe then had a puck bounce right to him in the slot and was easily able to slide it past Elder to make it 5-1 Grande Prairie after two periods.
In the third, it was Ethan Strang with the lone goal of the frame to round out the scoring.
Both teams finished the game 0 for 5 on the power-play but the Storm did register the one short-handed goal.
Next up for the Bobcats is a trip to Drayton Valley on Saturday when they visit the Thunder. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30.