The Virden Oil Capitals put forth an impressive offensive display in the second period on Friday night in Neepawa.
After the home team scored first in the opening frame on a goal by Ashton Anderson, the Oil Caps wound up responding in a big way, scoring a whopping six goals in the middle frame, eventually defeating the Natives 8-3 at the Yellowhead Centre.
Kyle Salaway got things started for Virden, netting his 13th of the year on the power-play to tie the contest at one piece at the 1:31 mark. Blueliner Tristen Cross would then score his fifth of the season to give the Oil Caps the lead less than a minute later.
Ben Dalke would then pick up his eighth and ninth tallies less than a minute apart at the 5:12 (PP) and 5:59 marks respectively to make it 4-1 Virden.
After Justin Metcalf cut into the lead for Neepawa, Oil Caps newcomer Rylee Zimmer responded for Virden, scoring his first of two goals on the night with approximately three minutes to go in the second. Jeran Knorr would later pick up his 13th goal of the year to make it 6-2 after 40 minutes of play.
The offensive onslaught continued in the third as Zimmer made it 7-1 at the 2:33 mark before Dylan Thiessen scored his eighth of the year approximately two minutes later. Neepawa’s Zach Johnson would later score the last goal of the evening near the midway point of the third.
Riley McVeigh picked up the win in net for Virden, helping the Oil Caps improve to 17-9-0-0 on the season, while Spencer Eschyschyn and Jake MacLennan combined to take the loss between the pipes for the Natives as they dropped to 14-13-2-0.
Next up for the Oil Caps: a home game on Tuesday night against the Swan Valley Stampeders.
Just a reminder: It’s ‘Tin for the Bin’ night on Tuesday at Tundra Oil and Gas Place!
The Oil Caps and Valleyview Co-op have once again teamed up to gather non-perishable food items for Virden Christmas Cheer.
All non-perishable food items collected at the two upcoming home games – Tuesday, Dec. 5 against the Stampeders and Friday, Dec. 15 against the Waywayseecappo Wolverines – will be matched by Valleyview Co-op (cash value) and donated to Christmas Cheer.