OLDS — The Olds Grizzlys are back home for a two-game home stand this weekend after a very successful two-game road trip where they won both games in Fort McMurray.
The Grizzlys host the Bonnyville Pontiacs this Friday night and the Lloydminster Bobcats on Saturday night. Game time for both matchups is 7 p.m. at the Sportsplex.
In Fort McMurray, the Grizzlys faced off against the Oil Barons in two back-to-back games Dec. 9 and 10 and won both by one goal each night; 6-5 on Saturday and a 4-3 overtime victory on Sunday.
Those two wins boosted the Grizzlys’ record to 8-21-2-3 for 21 points in 34 games, just one point behind the Camrose Kodiaks (9-19-0-4). However, the Kodiaks have two games in hand on the Grizzlys.
Back and forth contest
In Saturday’s game, the Oil Barons jumped out to a 3-0 lead within the first seven minutes of the first period.
But the Grizzlys fought back.
Mitchell Patrick scored his seventh goal of the season at the 6:51 mark, assisted by Connor Seeley and Quinn Abbott.
The Grizzlys then scored two goals in the second period.
Nolan Viesner got his fifth of the season at 2:01, assisted by Willem Terwoord. And Greye Rampton scored his eighth goal of the season at 5:04, assisted by Gaige Giblin and Tait Humphries.
The Oil Barons struck back with goals at 9:59 and 11:18, but the Grizzlys didn’t buckle.
Viesner scored his second goal of the game and sixth of the season at 15:16, assisted by Hunter Bill.
In the third period the Grizzlys provided all the offence.
Moxham scored his eighth goal of the season in just the first 55 seconds of the third period, assisted by Humphries.
Giblin got the game-winner at 8:13 of the final frame, assisted by Moxham and Connor Seeley.
Aiden Comeau went the distance in net, stopping 30 of 35 shots on goal.
The Grizzlys fired 27 shots at Oil Barons goaltender Gabe Gratton.
The Grizzlys were blanked on two powerplay opportunities. The Oil Barons scored one powerplay goal in four chances.
Overtime heroics
On Sunday, the Oil Barons got on the scoreboard first at the five-minute mark of the first period.
However, the Grizzlys struck back with two goals in that frame.
At 13:28, Moxham scored his ninth goal of the season, assisted by Giblin and Rampton.
Then at 15:49, Ryder Many Grey Horses got his eighth goal of the season unassisted.
In the second period, Mitchell Patrick added to that lead at 1:43, assisted by Many Grey Horses and Braxton Thornton.
The Oil Barons made it 3-2 at 10:35 of the second period, then tied it up with a goal at 11:31 of the third period.
However, Patrick got the game-winner for the Grizzlys at 1:03 of overtime, assisted by Many Grey Horses.
Once again, Comeau played the entire game in net, stopping 33 of 36 shots.
The Grizzlys fired 25 shots at Fort McMurray’s two goaltenders. Noah Nelson started the game in net for the Oil Barons but was replaced by Gratton after letting in three goals in 10 shots.
