Continuing their losing streak, 1-7-0-2 in their last 10 games as of Monday evening, the Dragons look to continue fine tuning this week with another week long off-ice lull following Tuesday night’s game in Calgary.
“Friday’s first period was probably the strongest we’ve had all year,” said head coach Dan Price.
Starting strong in the opening stanza against the Oilers Friday, newly imported Dragon Cass Mappin put up a goal two minutes into the first, followed shortly by an Okotoks goal halfway through the period.
Oiler Colton Hayes answered back 30 seconds into the second period on the powerplay, and with the Dragons retaliation on their powerplay chance two minutes later, it felt as if the game would stay deadlocked for overtime, said Price.
“Unfortunately they got a couple of weird goals, goals that don’t normally go through our goalies, making it 3-2. It took the wind out of our sails a bit,” said Price.
The Oilers managed to put in another three unanswered by Drumheller, forcing a 6-2 loss to the team which beat the Dragons 11-1 just weeks before – a franchise record loss.
“We got out of our gameplan and started to do too much offensively,” said Price, “that resulted in some defensive breakdowns. It was a much closer game than the score would show.”
Saturday night’s match-up against the Saints, the best ranked team in Canada’s juniors with 10 wins in their last 10 games and only two loses total this season, was interesting for the Dragons.
Seven players were out injured for Saturdays game, proving the 4-2 loss wasn’t as bad as it could have been for the Dragons.
Two affiliates from the Junior ‘B’s joined the team.
“We played a very structured game in both the defensive and neutral zones,” said Price.
Locked at 2-2 with 50 seconds left in the game, the Saints managed to make a goal on the powerplay. Another penalty ensued after that, and with the Dragons pulling goalie Cheveldave, Spruce Grove managed to make it 4-2 with an empty-netter on the powerplay.
“I really felt had we gone to overtime we would have won that game, because of so much confidence we had after playing such a structured game all night,” said Price.
The recovery of the seven players out is hoped to be quick says Price. “It’s just one of those tough stretches every team goes through.”
The Dragons travelled to Calgary on Tuesday night to take on the Canucks. Results were not available by presstime.
Drumheller will be on the road for their following two games, going to Brooks to challenge the Bandits on Wednesday, December 8, and to Olds on Friday, December 10. Their next home game is on Saturday, December 11 when they will host Brooks at 7:30 p.m.