SHERWOOD PARK, AB – The Bonnyville Pontiacs threw a real wrench in the Sherwood Park Crusaders aspirations of a home ice playoff spot, with a 7-4 victory Wednesday night at the Sherwood Park Arena.
Heading into the matchup, only three Points separated the Crusaders and Pontiacs, now that gap is five Points in favor of Bonnyville with a game in hand.
The first Period had incredible pace with both teams coming out with some jump. The Pontiacs, motivated by a disappointing 6-1 loss in their last visit to Sherwood Park and their three game losing streak, came out on top in the first.
Pontiac Forward Derek Brown would open the scoring at 2:21 for his career high 19th of the season.
The Crusaders would answer back with a Goal from none other than Merritt Oszytko who, for the third straight game, scored the Crusaders first Goal.
Bonnyville would regain the lead at 9:02 courtesy of Mitchell Oliver stemming from poor Crusader line change.
The back breaker in this game occurs in the final minute of the first two Periods.
Goals with 15 and three seconds left courtesy of Charlie Gawlicki (First Period) and PJ Marrocco (Second Period) would put the Pontiacs up for good as they took a 4-1 lead into the final 20 minutes.
Sherwood Park would push to within a Goal with two tallies in a span of 1:21 near the middle part of the third, Gage Joel and Tyler Maltby scored their 11th and 30th markers of the year. Maltby’s 30th was his league leading.
Inconsistency was the theme of the Crusaders game Wednesday night, and it was a microcosm in the third.
After getting within a Goal, Sherwood Park gave the Pontiacs a Power Play, and the league’s third best team on the Man Advantage made them pay.
Bonnyville would ultimately restore it’s three Goal lead that they started the final Period with as Dylan Stewart, Mitchell Oliver and Ryan Piche would help the Pontiacs put seven up on the Cru.
The Crusaders are back in action Sunday as they host the Grande Prairie Storm at 2:15 PM.
-Story By Taylor Medak