The Drumheller Dragons are fighting tooth and nail for a playoff position in the Southern Division of the AJH. The security on their position was dealt a small blow when the team hosted the Canmore Eagles on Tuesday night.
The Dragons, before the game, were four points ahead of the Eagles in the standings, but had one fewer games left to play. A win over the Eagles would have meant the Dragons would have clinched a spot in the playoffs.
After Tuesday’s game, that spot is still up for grabs.
The situation, as of press time, was that the Dragons were at 40 points, the Eagles 37, and the Calgary Canucks 41. The Dragons had only one game left to play, whereas the Eagles and Canucks each have two.
There are two scenarios that can occur. First, if the Dragons win their final game, and the Canucks lose their last two, the Dragons move into sixth place. If the Canucks win one game, the Dragons would remain in seventh. In this situation, if the Eagles won their last two games, they would still not surpass the Dragons.
If the Dragons lose their last game, the Eagles could win one and still leave the Dragons a playoff spot. However, if the Eagles are victorious in their final two games, the Dragons would be out.
This tense situation was brought on by the Dragons loss to the Eagles on Tuesday night.
The Dragons came out of the gate on the defensive. The Eagles kept the pressure on and restricted the scoring opportunities of the Dragons in the first period.
As a result, the Eagles scored first at 6:30 into the first period and again at 0:07 into the second.
Things were looking grim, but an unassisted goal by Justin Cintas at 12:14 into the second breathed new life into the Dragons. Doug Jones, off of Kevin McMillan and Ryan Bloom, tied the game up shortly thereafter.
At 6:50 into the third Jones again, with help from Coda Engbar, gave the Dragons the lead.
Victory was in sight, but the Eagles would not relent and tied the game at 9:57 into the third. The game went to a scoreless overtime period and had to be settled in a shootout.
The Dragons chose Jones, Bloom, and Brodie Jamieson to take the shots. Jamieson was the only Dragon to score. Unfortunately the Eagles sent two past Braden Gamble.
The Eagles won the critical game 4-3.
The Dragons faced the Okotoks Oilers yesterday (Thursday), but the results were not available as of press time. A win by the Dragons would secure a playoff spot. A loss would make it so the Dragons would have to rely on the Eagles losing.
