HOME GAME 21 RECAP: SAINTS SHUTOUT OIL BARONS 2-0, EXTEND WINNING STREAK TO 6.
By: Adam Kulak
The Saints were terrific at both ends of the ice in this game, as they shutout the Fort McMurray Oil Barons 2-0, extending their win streak to 6 games. Matt Davis was back in net tonight for his 24th start of the season. The Saints would also get guys back in this one, as Jordan Biro returned to the lineup from injury and Dylan Bourlai would return after serving a 7-game suspension.
Neither team could find the back of the net in the opening 20 minutes as it would stay scoreless after 1. There may have been a shortage in goals but there wasn’t a shortage of chances. The Saints were buzzing around the net and created a lot of good looks, but Oil Barons netminder Chris Curr shut the door. The Saints got back to playing how they played Wednesday night, closing gaps and defending well in the neutral zone. They were moving the puck well and did a better job than Fort Mac at getting into the zone cleanly and establishing possession time. Matt Davis wasn’t super busy shot wise but there were a couple scrambles in front of his net that he and the team had to deal with. The Saints outshot the Oil Barons 12-4 in that period but have yet to find the back of the net as we go to the second period.
The Saints strong play continued in the second period and they were finally rewarded for it with a pair of goals. Seth Fyten opened the scoring last game and he would open the scoring again tonight. 2 minutes into the period he took a feed from Mackenzie Harden and would take it right to the net to put the Saints up 1. At 8:54 of the period, Seth Fyten would put it out front for Dylan Bourlai and Tanner Hickey would deflect his shot for the 2-0 lead. Things would get chippy the rest of the period, Fyten would get 2 for boarding and a scrum ensued with Bourlai and Liam Izyk getting coincidental roughing minors. Then, with less than a minute left in the period, Nick Leyer would get cross checked into the boards by Ty Ettinger and another scrum ensued with a pair of coincidental minors. Shots in the period were 9-4 Saints as they go to the third with a two-goal lead.
The Saints play never wavered in this game as they finished this one how they started. They shut the Oil Barons down all night, not giving them anything offensively. You could tell Fort Mac’s top guys were getting frustrated as they were held in check for 60 minutes. The Saints couldn’t capitalize on the powerplay tonight, going 0/4 with three opportunities in the third period. They wouldn’t need it though as they close out the 2-0 win here at Grant Fuhr Arena, final shots in this game were 33-17 for the Saints. Seth Fyten was arguably the best player on the ice tonight. He opened the scoring for the second straight game and helped on the second goal from Tanner Hickey, getting the puck out to Bourlai for the shot. He was also excellent again on the penalty kill tonight along with the rest of the team. Matt Davis was solid in the net when called upon. He only faced 17 shots, but he made some big saves, especially in the third period where most of Fort Mac’s shots came.
The Saints are back in action tomorrow night as they welcome the Bonnyville Pontiacs to town, puck drop at 7:00pm.