Saints drop Game 4 as Storm tie Series at 2
By: Adam Kulak
It has now become a best of 3 series against these two teams. The Saints came out strong but struggled to create anything late, as the Grande Prairie Storm score twice in the second and hang on for the 2-1 victory. Cole Basnett would return to the lineup from suspension as well as Logan Acheson and Reid Schaefer would also come back in. They would replace Michael Bladon, Brecon Wood and Tanner Klassen.
First Period
The Saints came out hard in this game, they wanted to bounce back after last night and they did a good job through 20 minutes. They were really working the puck down low and in the offensive zone, cycling it on Grande Prairie and getting several good chances off hard work. Grande Prairie would go off for tripping just 3 minutes in, the Saints couldn?t quite capitalize on the man advantage, but they would strike first shortly after.
With under 8 minutes into the period, Zach Douglas would walk right in from the point, drive to the net and it managed to get through Kaeden Lane. That would be Douglas? first of the postseason, it was his 2nd goal all season but the way he looked on that play you?d think he was a 15-20 goal scorer. The Storm generated a few good opportunities of their own, but the Saints carried most of the play in the period.
The Saints spent most of the last couple minutes in the Storm end looking for the two-goal lead. They were all around the net with shots, but they couldn?t manage to finish on one of them. The Storm were able to weather the Saints pressure and keep this a one goal game. Shots in the period were 15-10 for the Saints as they head into the second period with a 1-0 lead.
Second Period
It was a very unfortunate result for the Saints in the middle frame. They lived in the offensive zone for most of the period and had many chances to add to their lead. But two unlucky bounces would be all it took for the Storm to get back into this game. Midway through the period, Ethan Strang would jump on a rebound in front to tie the game up at 1.
The Saints battled back to try and take the lead back, but they could not find the back of the net. Seth Fyten would come out from behind the net for a dangerous chance, but Kaeden Lane would keep it out. There were several instances where the puck would bounce or hop off the Saints sticks, preventing them from getting it on net.
With less than 3 minutes to play, the Saints would give Grande Prairie a late opportunity on the powerplay. The Storm had yet to score on the man advantage in this series, but that streak would end on an unfortunate bounce. Austin Schellenberg?s point shot would take a terrible bounce off a Saints defender and over the shoulder of Matt Davis. The Saints were playing well in the second period, but they find themselves now trailing in this game.
The shots were 23-17 for the Saints overall, as they will have to battle back heading into the final frame.
Third Period
With a chance to tie this series up at 2 games a piece, the Grande Prairie Storm came out and shut the Saints down for a lot of the period. The Saints had maybe one or two dangerous chances that were very close to going in. The Storm was clogging up the neutral zone, keeping pucks to the outside in their own zone and when they got the puck they attacked. They put on pressure late to extend their lead, but Matt Davis did what he could to give the Saints a chance to find the equalizer.
The Saints created lots of zone time and pressure, but they couldn?t generate any chances. Seth Fyten would find Jordan Biro right in front for a great chance and maybe their best chance came with 2 minutes left on a scramble in front of the net that somehow stayed out. But that was as close as they got, as the Saints would only manage 3 shots on net, and they are now looking at a 2-2 series tie going home for Game 5.
Puck drop is 7:00 PM this Saturday at the Grant Fuhr Arena. Get your tickets HERE