GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB – The Sherwood Park Crusaders evened their best of five North Division Quarter Series at 1-1 over the Grande Prairie Storm as Dylan Stewart scored 8:02 into overtime to defeat the Storm 3-2 on Thursday night.
In a carbon copy of game one, the Crusaders allowed the game’s opening goal early on as Christopher Lanouette would direct a point shot towards the goal of Brandon Vogel, unfortunately the puck would hit a Crusader and elude the netminder.
Sherwood Park would answer back nine minutes after the Storm goal as Tyson Gruninger scored his first goal of the post season as he and Ty Readman executed on a two on one to tie the game 1-1.
The Storm in turn would respond just over two minutes later as Edouard Michaud would net his third of the post season.
The last goal of regulation would occur at 19:36 as Arjun Atwal would convert on his own rebound and bang a puck home in tight on Storm Goaltender Ethan Slobodzian.
The Crusaders and Storm would trade chances in the final 40 minutes as both goaltenders were stellar in game two.
It would be a bend not break period in the third for Sherwood Park as the Crusaders would be forced to kill off three penalties, including one with just over four minutes remaining in regulation.
Sherwood Park would control the play in overtime and outshoot the Storm 12-1 in the extra period.
The Crusaders will look to take advantage of home ice when they resume their series against the Storm Saturday night in Sherwood Park for game three.
BOXSCORE: Crusaders 3 Storm 2 (OT)
VIDEO: Highlights