The Lloydminster Bobcats were laying their third game in four days, while the Drumheller Dragons were playing their third game in as many days, and in the end it was the Lloydminster Bobcats coming out on top.
Having split their first two meetings of the season, the Bobcats took the rubber match with a 4-1 win Sunday afternoon at the Centennial Civic Centre.
From start to finish the Bobcats appeared determined to to put an end to their two game losing streak, and that is exactly what they did.
Following a scoreless first period, one of Lloydminster’s local players put the Cats out in front.
On the power-play, Daniel Hilsendager received a pass from Cole Johnson, took a stride forward and blasted a slap-shot past Dragon’s goalie Dane Dow to put Lloydminster up 1-0.
Not quite eight minutes later, Hilsendager was back at it.
After Bobcat’s forward Rylan Nivon pulled the puck out of the corner, the Saskatoon product saucered a back-door pass to Hilsendager, who was pinching in from the point, and the defenceman put the back in the back of the net.
Leading 2-0 after two periods, the Bobcats continued to add to their lead in the final frame of regulation.
First year Cat, Leyson Coleman picked up a loose puck, broke in on a breakaway and beat Dow with a shot low glove side for his first career AJHL goal.
With 11:33 left to play in the third, Zach Kaiser put home his 12th goal of the season extending the lead to 4-0.
The Dragons would go on to score a late power-play goal to spoil Nick Sanders’ bid at a shut-out.
Sanders finished the game with 22 saves on 23 shots, while Dow allowed four goals on 29 shots.
The Bobcats went 1 for 3 on the power-play, while the Dragons finished 1 for 5 with the man advantage.
Lloydminster will resume their schedule on Friday when they visit the Olds Grizzlys.