Pontiacs Lose Tight Game 3 to Fort Mac Oil Barons

Oil Barons take 2-1 series lead

Tuesday night the Pontiacs returned home. After securing the series split in Fort McMurray, the Pontiacs were looking to take a 2-1 series lead. The Oil Barons came out on top 4-3.

The Pontiacs opened the scoring just under three minutes in. Alden Dupuis cashed in a powerplay goal to get Bonnyville off and running early. Erik Donald and Brandon Whistle were given the helpers on the goal. Fort McMurray would answer back. Will Conley scored the Oil Barons first goal of the night. The game was tied 1-1 after the first period. Headed into the locker rooms, Fort McMurray held the edge in shots, 11-6.

“They can’t catch us if we’re moving our feet and moving the puck.” Brandon Whistle told Husband Chad about alleviating a heavy Oil Barons fore-check.

Pontiacs powerplay comes through

The second period started out rocky for the Pontiacs. Brandon Ralph netted a goal four minutes in to give the Oil Barons a 2-1 lead. Four minutes later, Alden Dupuis scored his second powerplay goal of the night to tie the game once again. In the later part of the period, the Pontiacs got another powerplay. Alden Dupuis picked up a puck and put it home to complete the hat-trick. More importantly, the goal gave the Pontiacs a 3-2 lead going into the third. Shots were even at 10 apiece.

Not the third the fans were hoping for

Fort McMurray would tie the game 4:42 into the third period. Nicholas Nietubyc recorded his second point of the night on his goal. The game would remain tied into the back half of the period. Jared White put away the game winner on weird play from center. It would remain 4-3 Oil Barons until the final buzzer.

“It’s a bounce that favoured those guys. It’s too bad the game had to be decided on a bounce like that. If you do things right you’re going to get some of those bounces. It could have gone the other way.” Coach Rick Swan said of the fourth Oil Barons goal.

For more on Coach Swan’s Post-Game watch here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAPD_d4-SYI

Sandro Silvestre stopped 30 of 34 shots sent his way. Erik Donald and Brandon Whistle had two points each in the loss. Next game is tonight (Wednesday) at the RJ Lalonde Arena at 7:30 p.m. The Pontiacs trail the Oil Barons 2-1 in the series.

Husband Chad will keep you up to date all night long on Lakeland Connect’s Facebook page.