Saturday night was hockey night in Oil Country as the Caps took on the Dauphin Kings! The Caps were looking for the win with the last game in their home barn before the New Year but fell short with a 4-3 overtime loss to Dauphin. Virden Oil Capitals assistant coach, Carter Duffin said, “The difference in the game came down to a few shifts. We made a couple bad choices, had a couple bad shifts and it quickly undid all of the hard work we put in to get ourselves up 3-1. Moving forward, we need to make sure we come to the rink ready to go to work from the drop of the puck until the final buzzer without taking a shift off.”
The Kings opened up the scoring early in the game with a goal from Kyle Olekluk at 2:11 in the first period assisted by Brendan Arnold and Grady Hobbs. The Caps kept putting the pressure on for a goal to come midway through the first from Kirklan Lycar assisted by Ben Dalke and Sam Schultz. The Caps broke the tied game, with seconds left in the period, as Kyle Salaway put one away assisted by Jeran Knorr and Tristen Cross. After 20 minutes of play, the Caps were in the lead 2-1 and shots on goal were 15-7 in favour of the Capitals.
The second period was a quiet one with goals, as neither team able to put one away. There were lots of opportunities at both ends, but it proved to be a goalie standoff in the second. At the end of two periods the Caps held the lead 2-1 and shots on goal were 19-8, Oil Capitals.
Captain, Mack Hardy started the scoring off in the third with a power-play goal at 5:04 assisted by Kirklan Lycar and Dylan Thiessen, 3-1 Capitals. The Kings answered back with a goal from Matthew Greening at 9:00 assisted by Daniel Chartrand. The Kings kept coming and tied the game up 3-3 at 15:50 with a goal from Daniel Chartrand assisted by Ashton Clark and Matthew Greening. At the end of 60 minutes of play the game was tied 3-3 and would head to overtime. The shots on goal in the third were 19-14 for the Capitals.
The Kings ended overtime 47 seconds in with a goal from Ashton Clark assisted by Daniel Chartrand and Riley Shamray. The Kings took the game 4-3 and final shots on goal were 54-30 for the Capitals.
The Redfern’s Farmer Strong Hardest Worker of the Game was Dylan Cusmano. The Caps also picked up one of the three stars of the game – Kirklan Lycar was the Third Star of the game with a goal and an assisted.
Sunday night the Caps hit the road to take on the Steinbach Pistons for the last game before the Christmas break! The Caps dropped a tough 5-3 comeback win to the Pistons.
The Capitals came out flying and capitalized on a power play opportunity early with a goal from Carter Cowlthorp at 4:22 assisted by Tristen Cross and Sam Schultz. The Capitals stretched the lead to two late in the first with a goal from Jeran Knorr at 18:20, unassisted. At the end of 20 minutes, the Capitals were up 2-0 and shots on goal were 12-11 for the Pistons.
The Oil Capitals kept the momentum going with a goal from Kirklan Lycar at 7:10 in the second period assisted by Mack hardy, 3-0 Caps. The Pistons put one past Marc Audet late in the period with a goal from Mackenzie Graham assisted by Tyler Anderson and Bradley Schoonbaert. At the end of 40 minutes, the Caps were in the lead 3-1 and the shots on goal were 18-9 for the Pistons.
The third period proved to be a tough one for the Capitals as the Pistons came out rolling on all cylinders. The Pistons cut the lead to one with a goal from William Koop at 3:16 assisted by Bradley Schoonbaert. Less than a minute later the Pistons scored again to tie the game 3-3 with a goal from Wyatt Hinson assisted by Bradley Schoonbaert. The Pistons kept coming scoring again and taking the lead at 7:23 with a goal from Mackenzie Graham assisted by Bradley Schoonbaert and Wyatt Hinson. The Pistons stretched the lead to two with a goal midway through the third from Vaughn Dupre assisted by Jordan Bochinski. After 60 minutes of play, the Pistons took the game 5-3 and final shots on goal were 44-24 for the Pistons.
The Caps next action is December 31, 2016, on the road against the Portage Terriers at 7:30 pm. You can listen to the game live at Kickfm.ca or go to OilCapitals.com and click the link! The Capitals next home game is January 2 against the OCN Blizzard!! Thank you fans for your ongoing support, we look forward to seeing you in the New Year! Everyone have a great holiday and remember to be safe!!