Drumheller Dragons traveled to Calgary to face-off against the Mustangs Monday night in what hoped to be the start of a change in the tide and bring home a win.
The first period started out with a few scoring chances for both teams, the Dragons leading with shots on goal. Connor Boyd, this month Diabetes Awareness player, would be first to score at 7:10 unassisted. Chynoweth would take a roughing penalty shortly after but the mustangs would be unsuccessful and the Dragons would only give up two shots during their penalty kill keeping their 1-0 lead. At the halfway mark shots would be 11-6 favouring Drumheller and Levi Wunder would get a roughing penalty allowing for a Mustangs power play. Again the Mustangs would not be able to capitalize on their power play, although this seemed to be the way of the period as the Dragons would soon have a power play of their own and also follow suit with no goal scored. Finally at .51 sec remaining Schofield, assisted by James and Vermeulen would find the back of the net and bring the Dragons to a 2-0 lead but moments later with only .03 seconds left on the clock the Mustangs would score closing the period 2-1 in favour of the Dragons.
In the second period the play would start with some solid saves by Drumheller’s Jonny Hogue and that would just be the beginning of what would be a goalie focussed period. 4 on 2 action from the Mustangs would keep Hogue on his toes with continued big saves. Dragons Holinaty had a nice breakaway but would not be able to sink the puck. Another penalty call on the Mustangs would again give the Dragons a power play advantage where they displayed good puck support down low however no shots on net. At the halfway mark the Mustangs would apply pressure but it would seem to be a period of missed opportunities for Calgary. Muzyka and Wunder’s 2 on 1 at 5:49 added to the action but did not add another goal to the clock. The Dragons would wrap the period with two consecutive power plays the last one a result of a slashing penalty to the Mustangs with .39 sec remaining and the score 2-1 in favour of Drumheller.
The Dragons started the third period with 1.21 left on their power play and would battle in the corners, with an improved compete level. At 18:39 with only .01 seconds left on their power play, Schofield assisted by Schacher and Filbrandt buried the puck for his second goal of the night. The Dragons now lead 3-1. Drumheller would continue to pressure the Mustangs and at 15:48 Ryan Chynoweth with a wrist shot over the blocker hand would extend Drumheller's lead to 4-1. At 13:20 and the Dragons leading by three (two goals on four shots in the third period) Drumheller would call a timeout. The battle would continue with pressure from both teams, the Mustangs goalie stopping 4 of 6 shots by the Dragons at the halfway mark. A hooking call on Drumheller would keep Hogue busy during the Mustang's power play but the Dragons would continue to control the game and Calgary would not be able to capitalize. The Mustangs would keep pushing as they trailed by three with 39 shots on goal with four minutes remaining. Drumheller would take their second penalty of the period with 2:56 minutes remaining in the game allowing yet another Mustang power play. The Dragons would hold them off and with 36 seconds left in the power play the Mustangs pulled their goalie for a 6 on 4 advantage. Hogue would fend them off and no goals would be scored. The Mustangs looking for a late goal would again pull their goalie in the final 35 seconds of play for a 6 on 5 advantage but Jonny would step up and shut the door securing the 4-1 win ending the Dragons 8 game losing streak.
Drumheller host the Whitecourt Wolverines on Friday, December 4 at 7:30pm.