January 2, 2017
Virden, MB – The Virden Oil Capitals were back in their home barn for the first time this year and the first time since December 17th when they took on the Dauphin Kings. Tonight the Caps faced the Portage Terriers after beating them New Year’s Eve on the road 7-4. The Caps were looking for a similar outcome but fell short with a hard fought 3-2 loss. Oil Capitals assistant coach, Carter Duffin said, “It’s tough to kick off the New Year with a loss at home. We were still able to do a lot of positive things tonight though, scoring even-strength, on the power play and putting 42 shots on goal. Marc Audet supported us by stopping 43 shots, giving us an opportunity to tie the game up near the end. We know we’ve got to come back and play a full 60 minutes every night and we expect to push forward tomorrow.”
The first period both teams came out flying, but the Terriers were the first to break the goose egg with a goal at 18:19(PP) James McIsaac assisted by Chase Brakel and Jeremy Leipsic, 1-0 Terriers. The Caps had their chances but Terriers goalie, Kurtis Chapman held strong. After 20 minutes of play, the Capitals trailed by one and shots on goal were 18-12 Portage.
The second period the Terriers stretched the lead to two with a goal from Chase Brakel at 8:30 assisted by James McIsaac and Jeremey Leipsic. The Capitals kept battling and went on the power play as Takato Cox went to the box serving two minutes for hooking. The Caps power play had an opportunity to cut the lead to one and it did just that as Tyler Kirkup put one away at 15:51 assisted by Mack Hardy and Dylan Thiessen. At the end of the second period, the Terriers were ahead 2-1 and shots on goal were 20-14, Terriers.
The Capitals tied the game 2-2 at 14:32 in the third period with a goal from Jeran Knorr assisted by Carter Cowlthorp and Kyle Salaway. The Terriers jumped ahead again with a goal from James McIsaac for his second of the game assisted by Jeremey Leipsic, 3-2 Terriers. That would be enough for the Terriers to win the game 3-2 and shots on goal were 16-8 for the Capitals. The final shots on goal were 46-42 for the Terriers.
The Oil Capitals and the Terriers both went 1 for 3 (33.3%) on the power play in tonight’s contest. The Capitals Tyler Kirkup earned the second star of the game with one point in the game (1G). The Redferns Farmer Strong Hardest Worker of the Game was Marco Creta.
The Caps next action is at home Tuesday, January 3 against the Swan Valley Stampeders! Puck drop at 7:30 pm.