Penalties proved the bane of the Dragons on Wednesday night when they took on the Canmore Eagles. The Dragons were defeated by a devastating 5-1.
In the first period, the Dragons seemed to have the upper hand offensively, out-shooting the Eagles 11-5. Both teams went scoreless in the first, though the Dragons missed several close opportunities in front of the Eagles’ net.
Emotions were running high in both teams, with several heated encounters between players during stoppages in play.
The first half of the second continued much as the first period had, but a string of penalties in the latter half of the period proved to be the Dragons downfall.
Within two minutes, Ryan Aasman was put away for hooking, Brad Deagle for roughing and holding, and Brennan Baxandall for cross-checking.
The penalties provided the opening the Eagles needed to score three power play goals in rapid succession.
With nine seconds to go in the second, the Eagles were awarded a penalty shot. Luke Simpson for the Eagles snuck the puck past Dragons goalies Adam Beukeboom to give the Eagles a 4-0 lead heading into the third.
Aasman gave the Dragons their first, and only, goal of the night five minutes into the third, but the Dragons had no luck closing the distance on the Eagles for the rest of the period.
With just over a minute left in the game, the Eagles scored their fifth goal of the night.
The Dragons will be heading to Brooks tonight for a rematch against the first place Bandits. The two teams met last Saturday where the Bandits stole a narrow 2-1 victory.
