INNISFAIL - It was another tough weekend for the Innisfail Eagles who dropped two games 5-4 at home, both in overtime.
The first loss was against their namesake rivals the Stony Plain Eagles on Friday night, Nov. 25, while the second played out on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 27, against the Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs.
The Birds' Mike Muir made an appearance in net Sunday making 28 saves, while Dan Dunn was between the pipes for the Eagles on Friday night and made 26 saves. In both games the Eagles outshot their opponents -- 52-33 on Sunday and 58-31 on Friday.
The Birds flew out of the gates quickly on Friday taking a 2-0 lead early in the first period.
“It was definitely a tough loss,” said Ryan Caswell, who netted Innisfail's third goal of the night. “We were up 4-2 and had about 60 shots. We had all the chances, we just couldn't execute.”
Eagles rookie Simon Desbiens got the Birds on the board early in the first period Friday with a goal just one minute and 20 seconds into the frame.
“We got to find a way to put the puck (in the net). I don't think we played a bad game today but we got to be ready for the next game,” said Desbiens. “We got to work hard and get the two points, that's all that matters.”
Tom Mikrut and Tyler Beechey also pitched in goals in the 5-4 overtime loss.
Stony Plain inched closer with another marker making it 4-3 after 40 minutes. Late in the third period, Stony Plain tied the game at four and with nothing solved in regulation the game went to overtime.
With 1:51 left on the clock, Stony Plain netted their fifth goal.
“We were all over them for the majority of the game but we didn't capitalize on our chances and they did,” said Innisfail defenceman Andy Willigar.
The Eagles next home game is this Friday, Dec. 2. Puck drop is 8:30 p.m.
Ryan Caswell
"It was definitely a tough loss. We were up 4-2 and had about 60 shots. We had all the chances, we just couldn't execute."
