The Innisfail Eagles are down three games to zero after a 5-4 double overtime loss to the Bentley Generals in their Chinook Hockey League final that saw a standout performance from Eagles' goalie Jonathan Larose.
It took two overtime periods for the Eagles and Generals to decide the third match in the Chinook Hockey League (CHL) final on March 15 at the Red Deer Arena, producing more than 90 minutes of end to end, grind it out hockey that saw the Eagles come from behind after being down 2-0 after the first period.
After the 6-2 drubbing by the Generals the previous night, the Eagles were quick to play a solid two-way offensive and defensive game - finally gelling as a team for the first time in the series. The Birds stormed out of the gate, flying down the ice from the opening face-off and generated many excellent offensive opportunities, including the team's first test on Generals' goalie Travis Yonkman, who nimbly stopped a close-up shot.
The Generals got on the power play at 1:55 but the Eagles, equally strong on defense and special teams, were able to turn away the General's offensive surge.
Unlike previous playoff games between the two teams, the Eagles outshot the Generals two to one until penalties, including one at 15:11 to Cristopher Neurauter for roughing and another at 16:49 to Darrin Robak for high sticking, created a two-man advantage for Bentley. The General's Kyle Sheen seized the opportunity, notching the game's first goal at 17:10 with one second left in the double penalties.
Then Randall Gelech scored his first of two goals at 19:00 on an assist from Sheen, making the game 2-0 after 20 minutes.
But the Eagles came back 18 seconds into the second with Andrew Boute making the game 2-1 after pocketing a rebound from Mike Sullivan and Joe Vandermeer.
Bentley and the Eagles then traded goals, with the Generals' Jason Lundmark scoring on a power play at 7:14 from Connor Shields and Randall Gelech.
Two minutes later, the Eagle's Wyatt Hamilton blistered a shot just past centre ice that made the game 3-2.
But Gelech scored again at 14:43 to make the game 4-2 for the Generals.
Less than a minute later, Peter Vandermeer added another for the Eagles to make the score 4-3.
Both teams swirled, swooped, shot, and sustained offensive drives and turned the game into a wild west CHL shoot out with the Generals outshooting the Eagles 28-25 by the end of the second frame.
In the third, the Eagles' Michael Kneeland evened the game up at 3:11, setting the stage for overtime.
Regulation ended with the Eagles edging the Generals 35-34 in shots on goal, with both Larose and Yonkman standing on their heads to keep their teams in the game.
The first overtime period saw the Eagles nearly end it on their first shot with a quick blast that was blocked by Yonkman.
The Generals pinged the Eagles post at 6:10, yet the 4-4 tie remained, with both teams having 41 shots on goal at the end of the first overtime period.
Neither team could convert their opportunities well into the second overtime with both goalies stopping strong slap shots, close-in opportunities, and tip in efforts. Playing nearly penalty-free hockey, both teams put on an exhibition of passion and determination.
But the Generals' Sheen ended the stalemate at 12:19 with a backhand goal from Larose's left side, sending the Generals storming onto the ice in celebration.
Eagle's coach Brian Sutter was disappointed with the games result.
“We had a couple of bad penalties in the first period that allowed the Generals to score,” said Sutter. “Our players have to stay out of the penalty box. That was the key tonight.”
He added his squad played a good game and noted they know how they have to play against the Generals.
“Both goalies played a good game,” said Sutter. “In the end, their goalie (Yonkman) stopped one more puck than we did and that was the difference.”
On the prospect of going to game four down 3-0 to the Generals, Sutter added, “You can't win two games at a time. We have to play one game at a time, giving it our best effort.”
Sheen and Larose were named game stars.
The Generals outshot the Eagles 52-49 over 92 minutes of hockey. Game four will be played March 21 at the Innisfail Arena.
