The Cranbrook Bucks put on quite a show for their fans for the team’s annual Pink the Rink night versus the Brooks Bandits on Friday.
First period action saw Brooks take it to the Bucks, who were clad in special pink jerseys in support of anti bulling causes. The Bandits climbed to a 2-0 lead in the opening frame with goals from Nathan Free and a buzzer-beater from Luke Bibby with 1.8 seconds remaining. The Bandits took their 2-0 lead into intermission.
The second period belonged to Cranbrook. The Bucks outscored Brooks 3-1 in the middle frame with goals from Jacob Fletcher, Matthew Gilmore and Patrick Murphy. The Bandits did get one goal from Parker Lalonde to preserve a 3-3 tie after forty minutes.
Both teams went back and forth with goals in the third period. The Bandits retook their lead early in the third period with a second goal from Bibby to go up 4-3. However, Jacob Fletcher continued his big night by securing the tying goal with just 3:11 to go in regulation. The Bucks and Bandits would need overtime to decide a winner.
The Bucks netted the game-winner midway through the final frame on a rush into the Bandits zone. Jacob Fletcher found Rasmus Svartstrom with a perfect pass to give way for the Finish forward to tally the OT winner, securing a 5-4 victory for the Bucks.
Friday’s win puts Cranbrook’s record at 26-16-2, the Bandits outshot the Bucks 38-36. On special teams, the Bucks went 3/7 on the power play and 2/3 on the penalty kill.
Cranbrook is back in action tonight at home versus the Okotoks Oilers.
Buck Tracks:
- 4 point nights for Rasmus Svartstrom and Jacob Fletcher, both pass the 50 point barrier.
- 3 point night for Pat Murphy
