By Terry Martin
The Saints took on the Oil Barons for the 5th time this season as each team continues to battle for first place in the North. The home team has taken each victory in the season series so far and the Saints looked to end that trend tonight in Fort McMurray. Spruce Grove is up 6 points in the standings on Fort McMurray as the Oil Barons lost to Brooks last night. The Oil Barons are 5-5-0 in their last 10 games, while the Saints are 7-2-1.
Aidyn Hutchinson would be the one to open the scoring for the Oil Barons with 12 minutes left in the period. Caiden Gault would then take a cross ice pass and buries the puck to tie the game 1-1 on a power play opportunity. Both teams would also engage in some scrums around the nets after the whistle to turn up the heat in the game. The Saints would dominate on the shot clock as they lead 13-4 after 20 minutes.
The Saints would get close to scoring multiple times throughout the first 10 minutes of the 2nd period, but would be denied by some unfortunate bounces. Caiden Gault would again solve the Oil Barons goaltender as he would pop the water bottle for his 2nd goal of the game on another power play opportunity. The Saints would go up 2-1 with 6 minutes left in the second period, capitalizing on a 5 on 3 chance. Max McCoy would then tip the puck in from the slot to tie the game 2-2 late in the period. The Saints would again lead in shots 24-11, more than doubling up the Oil Barons through 2 periods of play.
The game would remain tied 2-2 the majority of the period, but the Saints would dominate in scoring opportunities as they out shot the Oil Barons 30-15 through the last 10 minutes of the game. The game would eventually be pushed into overtime where both teams would see some great chances. The Oil Barons would eventually end the game after Danny Ciccarello picked up the rebound and took the puck to the front of the net. The Saints drop the decision 3-2, and the home team continues to win in this season series. The Saints would outshoot the Oil Barons 34-18 after 64 minutes of play.
The Saints will look to get back in the win column back at the Grant Fuhr Arena on Wednesday as they take on the Grande Prairie Storm for the 4th time this season.