Zimmer scores twice as Oil Caps take down Steelers, take 2-1 series lead
The Oil Caps picked up a big Game 3 win over the visiting Selkirk Steelers on Tuesday night at Tundra Oil and Gas Place.
Rylee Zimmer played a key role in this contest, netting two tallies on the night as the home team defeated the Steelers 4-0, and in the process, help the club take a 2-1 series lead in the first round best-of-seven playoff series.
Zimmer scored what would be the lone goal of the first period at the 3:05 mark on the power play before Garrett Sambrook added to the lead nearly six minutes into the middle frame. The 2-0 lead held up until early in the third when Kyle Salaway netted his second goal of the playoffs at the 3:56 mark before Zimmer’s second of the game less than a minute later (4:41).
Riley McVeigh came up big between the pipes for Virden, stopping all 31 shots directed his way for the shut out, while Hayden Dola, who has been busy this series in net for Selkirk, combined with Zachary Bennett to make 53 stops in the loss for the Steelers.
“They did a good job clearing pucks from in front of the net and made it really easy for me tonight,” McVeigh said.
Sambrook, who scored the Oil Caps second goal of the night, says the team played fast, smart and did a good job of getting pucks out of their own end quickly.
“I think the guys are really coming together for playoff hockey,” Sambrook said. “Everybody played a great game, McVeigh made some huge saves for us. He was the difference in the game.”
Game 4 of the series is scheduled for Friday night in Selkirk. Game time: 7:30 p.m.
Extra Notes:
-The Twin Valley Co-op three stars: No. 1 – Rylee Zimmer (two goals); No. 2 – Riley McVeigh (shutout) and No. 3 – Kolten Kanaski (two assists).
-The Redfern Farm Services hardest worker: Garrett Sambrook.
-Special teams was big for the Oil Caps tonight as the club went 2-for-4 with the man advantage.
-Once again, the Oil Caps continue to direct a ton of shots on the Steelers net. Fifty-seven shots tonight for Virden.