By Robb Fenton
There’s no doubt the Lloydminster Bobcats deserved better Saturday night against Sherwood Park.
But a hot goalie stood in the ‘Cats way of earning two points and instead they had to settle for one after a shootout loss to the Crusaders.
Bobcats head coach Brian Curran said there wasn’t much more to say than that his team met up with a goaltender who played very well and stole the extra point from the ‘Cats.
“We allowed five shots in the last two periods. It was 37-16, we have to get it by him. We played a hot goaltender and that’s it,” Curran said following the game.
Crusaders goalie Matt Tompkins turned aside 35 of 37 shots to give his team the win.
Kyle Harris scored just 55 seconds into the game and Grant Baker scored midway through the second period on the power play for the Bobcats, who are in the middle of a seven-game in 10 days stretch.
Bobcats captain Tanner Erickson said it was a tough loss, but his team will take the positives and move forward.
“It’s always nice to see us battle after a pretty significant loss to Fort Mac. It always sucks losing in overtime or a shootout, but they only got six shots in the second and third period, so we have to take that and build on it,” Erickson said.
After each team fired 10 shots on net in the first period, the ‘Cats added 10 in the second and 14 in the third, but only scored once.
The Crusaders only managed five shots in the second and one in the third, but held on to send the game to a shootout, where they earned the win.
Baker, who scored to tie the game in the second, said his team just has to refocus for tonight’s game and put the losses behind them.
“We’re playing against a weaker team than Sherwood Park, but we still have to come mentally prepared and bounce back after these two losses. We have to get back to our winning ways,” Baker said.
Saturday’s game, even though it was a loss, was a lot better than Thursday’s 4-0 loss to Fort McMurray, so the ‘Cats will build on the improved effort.
It’s always tough to lose, especially in a shootout, but Baker said his team executed a lot better Saturday compared to Thursday.
“It’s a bit better feeling, even though we still lost. It’s better to see we’re moving in the right direction,” Baker said.
The focus is now turned to St. Albert tonight and Spruce Grove tomorrow before the Bobcats host their final two home games of the season Friday and Saturday.
“Any loss, you just want to go home, reflect on your mistakes for a bit, think about the positive things you did and take that into practice and work on things,” Erickson said.
Game time for tonight and tomorrow’s game is 7:30 p.m. At the Civic Centre.
Then on the weekend, the ‘Cats host Drayton Valley for a pair of games before finishing the year off on the road Feb. 16 and 18.