By Terry Martin
The Saints and Thunder played each other for the final time this regular season and for the second time in as many days. Spruce Grove has won every game against Drayton Valley so far this year and have scored 16 goals in the past two games against the Thunder. The Saints are averaging 4.90 goals for every game and 3.08 against this season.
The Thunder would open the scoring in this rematch game as Grayson Reid would fire the puck in from the slot 5 minutes into the game. The Saints would battle back throughout the period but would not be able to get the game tied. The Saints would also trail 17-10 in shots after the opening frame.
Both teams would continue to run up and down the ice and trade chances throughout the first ten minutes of the period as both goalies would keep the puck out of the net. Neither team would score for the rest of the period, the Saints would kill off 2 penalties and catch up in shots but still trail 27-24 after 40 minutes.
Luca Ricci would open the scoring for the Thunder in this period to put them up 2-0 five minutes into the frame. Brett Pfoh would then get that one back 50 seconds later to cut the Thunder lead in half. Jayden Davis would then tie the game 2-2 with about a minute remaining in the game to send the game to overtime.
Grayson Reid would be the one to end the game as he would find himself on a partial break in the overtime period. The Saints fall to the Thunder for the first time this season but pick up a point in the loss. The Thunder would also have the edge in shots 41-37 after extra time.
The Saints continue their road trip on Wednesday against the Bonnyville Pontiacs as they look to get back into the win column.