The Virden Oil Capitals are only a point out of second place in the MJHL standings after the club edged the Portage Terriers by a score of 6-5 in what was a back-and-forth affair at Tundra Oil and Gas Place on Tuesday night.
After a rather disappointing effort by the Oil Caps on Sunday in which the club lost 8-2 to the Blues in Winnipeg, the Oil Caps responded in a big way tonight. With the game tied at five apiece in the third period, former Terrier Rylee Zimmer ended up netting the game winner at the 14:02 mark as the Oil Caps held on for the tightly-contested win.
“It was a good game, a good team effort,” said Zimmer, who was acquired from the Terriers in trade back in late November.
Oil Caps blueliner Jayden Wojciechowski scored his first of two tallies on the night early in the first period (1:54 mark) to open the scoring before Cody Thompson replied with his fifth of the year for Portage less than 30 seconds later, tying the contest 1-1. Virden defenceman Justin Lee scored his fourth of the year 3:43 into the period to give the Oil Caps a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.
The Terriers tied the game at the 7:43 mark of the second as James McIsaac netted his 17th of the season but the celebration was short-lived as Kirklan Lycar responded for Virden less than a minute later as the veteran forward netted his ninth of the year, helping the Oil Caps regain the one-goal lead. Portage would tie the game once again at the 15:27 mark of the middle frame as Ty Enns buried his third of the season to make it 3-3 after two periods of play.
Just like it was in the first period, the Oil Caps quickly got to work offensively in the third as Oil Caps forward Landyn Cochrane picked up his sixth of the campaign at the 1:02 mark to make it 4-3 for Virden before Wojciechowski’s fourth of the season at 5:13 made it 5-3 for the Oil Caps. The Terriers didn’t go away however as Jeremey Leipsic’s 17th of the year at 9:48 cut into the lead and Chase Brakel’s 21st of the season on the power play tied the game at 11:31 of the third.
Dalton Dosch picked up the win in net for the Oil Caps, turning aside 19 of 24 shots, while Brock Aiken ended with the loss between the pipes for Portage, stopping 26 of 32 shots directed his way.
Extra Notes:
-The Oil Caps had four power play opportunities, going 0-for-4, while the Terriers had five chances with the man advantage, going 1-for-5.
-Kirklan Lycar was named the first star on the night, while Rylee Zimmer and Jayden Wojciechowski were the second and third stars respectively.
-Attendance for tonight’s game: 767.
-Next up for the Oil Caps: another home game on Thursday night against OCN. Game time: 7:30 p.m.