A four-goal second period helped propel the Virden Oil Capitals to a 7-2 win over the Neepawa Natives on Sunday night at Tundra Oil and Gas Place.
After a scoreless first period, the Oil Caps poured it on offensively in the middle frame, scoring four goals – a Neepawa tally sandwiched in between – followed by three more tallies in the third as the club picked up its 30th win of the season.
“I thought we were pretty solid all night,” said head coach and GM Troy Leslie. “A lot of different guys got on the scoresheet tonight, so it was a good night for a lot of guys on our team.”
Landyn Cochrane’s first of two goals on the night at 8:49 on the power play kicked things off for the Oil Caps in the middle frame before Dylan Thiessen scored just 59 seconds later (also with the man advantage) making it 2-0 for Virden. The Natives responded at the 10:42 mark as Jordan Martin netted his 13th of the year before Thiessen’s second of the period and 14th of the year at 12:53 made it 3-1. Ben Dalke’s 14th of the season at 16:26 provided the Oil Caps with a three-goal lead after 40 minutes.
The Oil Caps continued the offensive onslaught as Kyle Salaway scored his 21st of the season at 3:36 of the third to make it 5-1 before Cochrane’s second of the night (11th of the year) really opened the floodgates. Marco Creta’s first of the season at the 16-minute mark made it 7-1 before Jesse Gibbons scored late in the contest for Neepawa.
After what was a busy weekend with three games in three nights, the Oil Caps were able to secure four of a possible six points.
“The two teams we faced are battling for a playoff spot and are obviously battling extremely hard right now,” Leslie said. “I thought in these last two games we really responded well. So overall, we’re happy with the weekend.”
Oil Caps goaltender Dalton Dosch made 29 saves to pick up the win in net for Virden.
“The guys played really well, they helped me out a lot,” he said.
Dosch didn’t mince words after the game, when asked what the biggest difference was between tonight’s win and last Wednesday’s 5-2 loss to the Natives in Neepawa.
“When we were in Neepawa, we really didn’t show up ready to play and weren’t focused. Guys came ready tonight and came out on top.”
Extra Notes:
- Dylan Thiessen(two goals and an assist) was named tonight’s first star, followed by Landyn Cochrane (two goals, assist) at No. 2 and Tyler Kirkup (two assists) at No. 3.
- Kirklan Lycar was named the Redfern Farm Services hardest working player tonight. Lycar chipped in with two assists in the win.
- The Oil Caps sit with a 30-15-2-0 record and are currently one point behind the Portage Terriers for second place in the MJHL standings.
- The Oil Caps next game: Wednesday night in Waywayseecappo. Game time: 7:30 p.m.