Penalties The Difference in Dragons Loss
Drumheller continued their 3 game road trip up north tonight by heading to Revolution Place in Grande Prairie to tangle with the Grande Prairie Storm. Drumheller was coming off a win in Drayton Valley last night and Grande Prairie was coming off a shoot out loss to the Calgary Canucks.
The first period was back and forth for both teams. The Dragons did not have the start that they wanted. Drumheller had two powerplay opportunities and could not capitalize on either. The Storm had 3 power play chances and also could not score. Grande Prairie outshot Drumheller 12 – 6 in the period but the two teams were deadlocked at 0 – 0.
In the second, Drumheller out played Grande Prairie and received 5 power play opportunities compared to one for the Storm. The Dragons opened the scoring at 11:31 when Nicholas Sutter scored his first goal as a Dragon on the power play from Andrew Kartusch and Brayden Nicholetts. Drumheller outshot Grande Prairie 13 – 7 and led 1 – 0 after 40 minutes.
The third was a crazy period for penalties for the Dragons. Drumheller was penalized 7 times in the period which gave the Storm 7 power play chances including a couple 5 on 3 opportunities. The Storm scored twice in the period on the man advantage. First at 9:29, when Justin Bernier scored from Tyrell Boucher and Dallas Comeau. Then at 16:23, when Zachary Okabe scored on the power play from Tyrell Boucher and Justin Bernier. Hunter Virostek made some ridiculous saves in the game but was pulled with just over 2 minutes left in the game for the extra attacker. Grande Prairie found the empty net with 1:55 left when Jonothan Hader scored from Justin Bernier. Final score, Storm 3 – Dragons 1.
Final shots on goal Storm 37 – Dragons 28
Power play opportunities:
Grande Prairie 2 for 11
Drumheller 1 for 11
Hardest Working Dragon – Andrew Kartusch
Three Stars
– Nicholas Sutter (DRU)
– Hunter Virostek (DRU)
– Justin Bernier (GP)
Drumheller wraps up their three games in three days on Sunday afternoon when they head to Whitecourt to battle the Wolverines. Pregame show at 2:15 with puck drop at 2:30 on the home of the Dragons, 99.5 drumFM.
Jason Blanke
Morning Show Host – 99.5 DRUM FM
Office: 403.823.9936
www.DrumhellerOnline.com