The Lloydminster Bobcats threw 42 shots on net Friday night, but goaltender Berney Weston held the line to lead the Fort McMurray Oil Barons to a 3-1 victory at the Cenovus Energy Hub.
Read more: Edmonton man charged with drug trafficking, banned from Enoch Cree Nation
After a scoreless opening period on Sept. 18, Fort McMurray broke the ice 3:38 into the second period when Griffin Gidney beat Bobcats starting goaltender Sam Madgett.
Braydon Riggall doubled the Oil Barons’ lead at 12:48 of the second frame, finishing off a sequence set up by Jayden Lazare and Gidney. Riggall’s tallie stood as the eventual game-winner.
The Bobcats mounted a heavy push in the final period, outshooting Fort McMurray 15-9. Defenseman Dylan Deets brought the home crowd to its feet at the 6:33 mark of the third, wiring a pass from Maxx Parfitt past Weston to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Lloydminster pulled Madgett late for an extra attacker, but Evan Benoit sealed the victory for Fort McMurray with an empty-net goal at 19:22.
Weston earned visiting team star honors with a 41-save performance on 42 shots. Madgett stopped 24 of 26 shots in the loss for Lloydminster.
Neither side found success on the man advantage, with the Bobcats going 0-for-2 on the power play and the Oil Barons finishing 0-for-1.
The two teams return to the ice tonight at 7 p.m. at the Cenovus Energy Hub for a weekend rematch.
Read more: GALLERY: Sandy Beach horseshoe tournament wraps up summer
