Butikis shuts down Storm in Pontiacs 4-3 win

Image: Emma Jonker Photography. The Pontiacs ended their homestand with an excellent showing against the Storm, picking up a much needed win before the December sprint begins. 

Take a bow Cody Butikis. 

The Bonnyville Pontiacs goaltender came up with the performance of the season, making 43 saves in a 4-3 victory over the Grande Prairie Storm on Saturday night. 

Myles Gauld added two goals and an assist, Kailus Green ended a slump with a marker 61 seconds into the contest, and 16-year-old Rockston Ror-Chow came up with the biggest goal of all in the 3rd period to win an important home game to end November. 

But there was no doubt about the first star. 

Butikis was fantastic, particularly responding after being pulled in the previous game vs Calgary. From timely saves, to stops he had simply no business making, he was electric. 

“The consistency in his game was definitely what we needed. He made huge saves for us. The paddle save in the 1st period, close to 50 shots tonight, he definitely earned first star for sure,” said assistant coach Chad Carder.

WATCH: Postgame with Chad Carder

Bounce back

This was the third weekend of November with one just game on the slate for the Yaks, putting more pressure on the team to perform in the standalone spot.

However, this weekend the Hockey Gods were on the Pontiacs side, unlike the several frustrating sequences from a week prior.

Grande Prairie was seething after a loss in Lloydminster the night before, and in the first shift, pounded pucks onto Butikis. The Bonnyville goaltender was ready to go, making several saves, and on an offensive rush back the other way, Kailus Green knocked his own rebound out of the air for a goal.

That set the tone for an opportunistic Pontiacs team in terms of scoring chances, that found ways to beat Keagin Kelln four times on 18 shots.

By the end of the 1st period though, the Storm were rolling and took a 2-1 lead into the intermission.

The game was marred by penalties, as the intensity level never simmered following a hard crash into the endboards from Kasey Russell Jr that went unpenalized, and a large scrum ensued.

But unlike previous occasions, the power play converted, and the penalty kill stood up tall.

After three consecutive kills from the 1st to early 2nd period, Myles Gauld finished a back door tap-in from Porter Byrd-Leitner to knot up the game 2-2.

Youngster collects game winner

The Pontiacs began the 3rd period on the man advantage and wasted no time.

Gauld re-directed the point shot from Maxim Shushkov just 24 seconds into the period to re-take the lead. Then Ror-Chow in a solo rush effort curled wide and opened up Kelln’s five-hole enough to tuck the shot in between the pads.

It was a lead the Yaks wouldn’t look back from. The Storm pushed to get within one, but that’s all they all get.

The win felt like justice for a snakebit team offensively, and good revenge on the Storm, who beat the Yaks at the RJ just three weeks ago.

Ror-Chow has been a young player that’s been in and out of the lineup — with the opportunity to show what he’s been learning, he made the most of it.

“I’ve been getting more comfortable here. The boys have been really good at bringing me in and making everyone feel like we all belong at this level,” he said before the game.

“I think this last month I’ve been getting back to my style of hockey and clicking, having more confidence.”

Ror-Chow now has three goals and three assists on the season.

December dash

The Fort McMurray Oil Barons scored seven unanswered goals to defeat the Camrose Kodiaks on Saturday, so the Yaks kept pace with the team they chase for 4th in the North.

Wednesday begins a stretch of seven games in 13 days to close out 2024 before the Christmas break, and it could be a make-or-break.

The Yaks have five games in hand on the MOB and sit six points behind. By using their games in hand, they can land it that spot, but Fort Mac will also play seven games in the month.

This head-to-head though is a four point swing in standings, as it’s the second of six matchups this season.

Then, the Pontiacs return home on Friday and Saturday night, against Camrose and Calgary, respectively.

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You can listen to every game, all season on lakelandconnect.net/pontiacs.