SPRUCE GROVE, AB (April 11, 2024) — Jagger Tapper (Calgary, AB) scored the winning goal early in the third period of Thursday’s game at Grant Fuhr Arena as the Okotoks Oilers defeated the Spruce Grove Saints by a 3–2 score in Game 2 of their best-of-five BCHL play-in round.
The Oilers now lead the Saints two games to none in the BCHL Alberta Division wild card series. Game 3 between the two teams will take place in Okotoks on Saturday night; the Oilers are now on the cusp of advancing to the next round with a three-game sweep of Spruce Grove.
Tapper’s second goal in as many postseason contests gave the Oilers their first and only lead of the game. The 2004-born forward entered the Spruce Grove zone with the puck before unleashing a deceptive wrist shot that beat Saints goaltender Ryan De Kok at the 2:18 mark of the final frame.
Christian Green (Boothwyn, PA) stopped 30 of the 32 shots he faced for his second consecutive playoff win. The first-year Oiler was recognized as the first star of Thursday’s contest after being named the second star of Wednesday’s Game 1.
Owen MacNeil (Calgary, AB) and Jack Silverberg (Sherwood Park, AB) also found the back of the net for the Oilers in Game 2. Among the six different Oilers skaters who registered assists on Thursday, Jackson Rowland (Calgary, AB) took control of the team lead with his third of the playoffs.
The Oilers trailed twice on Thursday before finally taking the lead in the third period. Spruce Grove led for most of the first period after defenceman Matthew Lesyk opened the scoring on an odd-man rush at the 3:14 mark. After MacNeil tied the game in the final minute of the first, Ryan Johnstone restored the Saints’ one-goal lead in the first minute of the second.
Silverberg brought the Oilers back even off a slick setup by Rowland just past the midway mark of the middle frame, and the visitors never trailed again from there. Despite some nervous moments late in the third period, the Oilers steered home a 3–2 win while also outshooting the Saints 33 to 32.
The Oilers will return to action on home ice in Game 3 on Saturday with a chance to eliminate Spruce Grove and move on to face the Brooks Bandits in the next round. Single-game tickets remain available at tickets.okotoksoilers.com.
Recap: Mike Gould
Photo: Ticaboo Media
