The Cranbrook Bucks came home with a mixed bag of results from their latest Alberta road trip, taking a loss Friday and a win Saturday.
The Bucks were able to bounce back from a lopsided 10-2 loss to the Sherwood Park Crusaders Friday with a strong effort the following night versus the Blackfalds Bulldogs in a 5-2 final.
Unlike Friday, Cranbrook got into the game in the early goings of the first period Saturday night. Rasmus Svartstrom’s big game got started with his first tally at 6:53 to lift the Bucks to a 1-0 lead. A goal after the midway mark from Nathan Simm gave Cranbrook a 2-0 lead to take through intermission.
Cranbrook began to put the game out of reach in the middle frame. Svartstrom’s second goal of the night and another from Sammy Hynes had the Bucks in a comfortable 4-0 lead after forty minutes.
A third goal from Svartstrom less than two minutes into the third period gave Cranbrook a 5-0 lead. The Bulldogs managed to break Miles Roberts’ shutout bid, but would not have enough in the tank to make up the gap, and the Bucks walked away with a 5-2 win.
Saturday’s victory lifts Cranbrook’s record to 12-10-0, they were outshot 32-20 by the Bulldogs. On special teams, the Bucks went 0/3 on the power play and 1/1 on the penalty kill.
The Bucks are back in action for a rare midweek matchup Wednesday night versus the West Kelowna Warriors.
Buck Tracks:
- Hattrick for Rasmus Svartstrom, 12 points through current 7 game point streak.
- Miles Roberts stops 30 of 32 shots.
