The BCHL regular season is into its final month and the Cranbrook Bucks are hitting their stride at the right time, Saturday’s 5-3 win over the Okotoks Oilers is proof to that pudding.
The Bucks failed to ride momentum from Friday’s win into a good start to the first period with the Oilers opening the scoring on the road. Oilers defender Cyle Clayton was able to convert on an odd man rush at the 2:30 mark, putting Okotoks up 1-0. The Bucks had plenty of time to call “Mulligan” and the newest member of the herd, Sam Ranallo, finished a fancy solo effort to vault the game to a 1-1 tie with less than four minutes to go. The game was tied 1-1 at intermission.
Okotoks managed to briefly retake their lead close to the midway mark of the second period. Forward Kade Duell beat Bucks goalie Miles Roberts to move the Oilers to a 2-1 lead, but the Bucks didn’t look back after that. Cranbrook responded within a few minutes via Shane Baker’s tenth goal of the season. That was followed by a tally from Patrick Murphy to put Cranbrook up 3-2 at intermission.
Cranbrook’s top line continued to bring the heat in the third period. Jacob Fletcher and Rasmus Svartstrom both picked up goals in the final frame to add insurance. Okotoks did manage one more goal from Duell, but 5-3 was as close as they would get.
Saturday’s win lifts Cranbrook’s record to 27-16-2, they were outshot 36-29. On special teams, the Bucks went 0/1 on the power play and 1/1 on the penalty kill.
The Bucks return to action at home Friday night in an important matchup versus the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
Buck Tracks:
- 1g, 1a for Rasmus Svartstrom, Jacob Fletcher and Shane Baker
- 1g, 2a for Patrick Murphy
