Saturday night’s 6-0 victory for the Cranbrook Bucks over the Blackfalds Bulldogs puts the team on the right track with some stiff competition on the horizon.
The Bucks, looking to shake a three-game losing streak, got things started the right way in the first period. The Bucks outshot Blackfalds 16-6 in the opening frame, and forward Patrick Murphy got his big game started with a goal at 9:21 to give Cranbrook a 1-0 lead. Cranbrook’s lead held steady through intermission.
The gap began to widen in the early goings of the second period. Murphy added his second goal of the night, while Rasmus Svartstrom provided run support to bump Cranbrook’s lead to 3-0. The Bucks maintained their three goal lead through the forty minute barrier.
Cranbrook was able to hit cruise control through the third period, and managed to double their lead before the final buzzer. Murphy added one more to complete his hattrick, while Max Silver and Jacob Fletcher rounded out the scoring to give the Bucks a 6-0 road win.
Saturday’s triumph lifts Cranbrook’s record to 10-6-0. On special teams, the Bucks went 2/6 on the power play and 6/6 on the penalty kill while outshooting Blackfalds 33-27.
The Bucks return home to face one of the BCHL’s top teams, the Penticton Vees.
Buck Tracks:
- Congrats to Miles Roberts on recording his first BCHL shutout (27 saves)
- Max Silver earns first career BCHL goal
- First BCHL hattrick for Patrick Murphy
