Post Game Wrap Up: Saints Sweep Home and Home against Drayton Valley with 3-2 Win.

Post Game Wrap Up: Saints Sweep Home and Home against Drayton Valley with 3-2 Win.

24 hours after a 3-2 Opening night shootout victory, the Saints pick up where they left off to end last game with a 3-2 regulation win here in Drayton Valley.  Ryan Peckford had two powerplay goals in the second and Seth Fyten added the eventual game winner in the third, as the Saints sweep the home and home with the Thunder to start the season.  Big lineup changes as Zach Douglas, Brady Nicholas, Liam Hughes, Sam Popowich and Carter Myrol would dress tonight after not playing in the Home Opener.  With Matt Davis and Shawn Wiranata between the pipes, lets get to puck drop on tonight?s matchup.

First Period

The first period of play was a pretty low event period to start off this game.  The Saints had a powerplay opportunity early in the period but failed to capitalize on the man advantage.  Drayton Valley had a powerplay and a 5 on 3 opportunity but neither team could solve either goaltender in the period.  The Saints would only manage 3 shots as the game would remain scoreless after 20 minutes of play.

Second Period

Things would turn around a bit for the Saints as they managed to generate more quality chances in the second period.  It was a penalty parade for Drayton Valley in the middle frame, so the Saints got plenty of looks on the man advantage, and they would make them pay twice going 2/5 in the period.  Drayton Valley capitalized on their only Powerplay of the period as Jeremy Klessens would beat Matt Davis short side to open the scoring for the Thunder 7 minutes in.  The Thunder would open the scoring both last night and tonight but just like last night, the Saints would storm back with a pair to take the lead.  The Saints couldn?t finish on their first 3 opportunities, but they capitalized on their last 2 as Ryan Peckford would make no mistake right in the slot to tie the game at 1.  Then just 8 seconds into their next powerplay Peckford would make them pay again as the Saints head into the final period with a 2-1 lead.

Third Period

The Saints came out in the third and outshot the Thunder 11-6 in the final 20 minutes.  Seth Fyten would take a breakaway feed from Peckford and would bury it on Thunder goaltender Shawn Wiranata giving the Saints an insurance marker midway through the period.  Jeremy Klessens would get his 2nd of the game on the Powerplay to bring them back to within one, but that would be as close as they get.  The Saints would hold Drayton Valley off for the rest of the period, winning 3-2 and now improve to 2-0-0 on the season with back to back victories.

The Saints probably played a better overall game from start to finish tonight than the previous night.  They were a bit rusty to start last game, but they had a better first 40 minutes here tonight.  The line of Peckford, Gamache and Fyten was terrific all night, Peckford and Fyten had 3 points each and Gamache was all over the puck as well as winning puck battles all night long.  Matt Davis maybe would have liked to have the first goal back, but he bounced back and played a very solid game the rest of the way.

The Saints next game is Wednesday night in Lloydminster as the Saints get set to take on the Bobcats, puck drop is 7:30pm.