The Cranbrook Bucks got exactly what they needed Friday night in the form of a 6-2 home victory versus the Sherwood Park Crusaders.
Both teams kept things even through the early goings. The Crusaders took an early edge in shots on goal, but it was the Bucks who found the net first. A goal from Jack O’Brien near the eight-minute mark put Cranbrook in a 1-0 lead. The Crusaders tied the game with just over six minutes left in the opening frame when Poul Anderson converted a 2-on-1 rush to square up with Cranbrook at 1-1. The deadlock was in place through intermission.
The second period played out similarly. Cranbrook briefly held another lead when a Patrick Murphy goal early in the frame put his team up 2-1. The Crusaders replied in short order thanks to a Jeremy Loranger tally to even up at 2-2. The 2-2 tie was intact through forty minutes.
The Bucks walked away with the game in the third period. Four unanswered goals from Jacob Fletcher, Blake Cotton, Shane Baker and Rasmus Svartstrom gave the Bucks a much-needed 6-2 win over a divisional rival.
Friday’s victory lifts Cranbrook’s record to 11-8-0, the Crusaders outshot the Bucks 39-27. On special teams, Cranbrook’s power play went 0/2 and they finished 0/3 on the penalty kill.
The Bucks get back at it Saturday night for their annual Teddy Bear Toss game versus the Trail Smoke Eaters.
Buck Tracks:
- 4 point night for Rasmus Svartstrom (1g,3a)
- Congrats to Jack O’Brien on scoring his first career BCHL goal
- Jaden Cholette stops 37 of 39 shots
