It appears the Spruce Grove Saints have the Cranbrook Bucks’ number after taking a 5-1 loss on the road Friday night, Cranbrook’s second setback in as many tries versus Spruce Grove.
The Saints had the game well in hand from start to finish. A goal from Grayson Neihaus at the halfway mark of the first period lifted Spruce Grove to a 1-0 lead. The Bucks did not find the net in the opening frame, and trailed 1-0 at intermission.
Spruce Grove added a pair of goals in the second period to build their lead. Gabriel Kenny and Alexy Lachaine put the Bucks down 3-0 after forty minutes.
The Bucks got one back in the third period with an early goal from Jordan Murray. However, the Saints still had some more tricks up their sleeves. Two goals from Ryan Johnstone put the Saints up 5-1, and left the Bucks out of reach. The final buzzer sounded, and the result was a 5-1 loss for Cranbrook.
Friday’s loss drops Cranbrook’s record to 9-6-0 and brings the club’s losing streak to three games. On special teams, the Bucks went 0/4 on the power play and 3/4 on the penalty kill, the Saints outshot Cranbrook 36-26.
The Bucks wrap up their Alberta road trip Saturday night in Blackfalds versus the Bulldogs.
Buck Tracks:
- Jordan Murray scores his fourth goal of the season
