Sunday, December 14, 2014

Kootenay 6 Edmonton 3

From Chris Wahl ... http://www.kootenayice.net/article/ice-double-oil-kings-saturday
Matt Alfaro's goal 8:01 into the third period broke a 3-3 tie and propelled the Kootenay ICE to a 6-3 victory over Edmonton Saturday at Western Financial Place.

Alfaro was one of five ICE skaters to finish with multi-point games, while Wyatt Hoflin turned aside 24 shots in his 22nd consecutive start as the ICE won its second game in as many nights.

Kootenay opened the scoring just before the four-minute mark when, on a power-play leading scorer Jaedon Descheneau re-directed a point shot over the shoulder of Oil Kings goaltender Tristan Jarry for his 17th goal of the season.

Defenseman Tyler King added a second marker for the home side before Brandon Baddock answered for Edmonton with 3:22 remaining in the opening frame. The ICE took a 2-1 lead into the break.

Kootenay forward Zak Zborosky scored twice in Friday's win over Prince Albert, and extended the ICE lead Saturday with another tally 3:42 into the second period. The Regina product snapped a shot from the high slot that caromed into the net off Jarry's shoulder.

The Oil Kings responded again though early in the third period. Blake Orban rifled home a shot 25 seconds into the frame from the right-wing circle to cut the ICE lead to 3-2.

Forward Brandon Ralph put Edmonton even just over five minutes later, tucking a rebound past Hoflin's right pad after linemate Tyler Robertson's shot was saved.

Kootenay fired 12 shots at the Oil Kings goal in period three, but went ahead after a miscue behind the Edmonton net. Zborosky stripped Jarry of the puck, then quickly fed Alfaro who fired a shot into the vacated cage.

Defenseman Bryan Allbee added an insurance marker with 3:33 remaining before Ryan Chynoweth rounded out the scoring into the empty net with 35 seconds left.

The ICE improved its record when opening the scoring at home to 8-0-0-0 this season.

Kootenay went 1-3 on the power play, while Edmonton finished 0-3 with the man-advantage.

UP NEXT: Kootenay wraps up its pre-holiday portion of the 2014-15 schedule Tuesday with a home date against the Kamloops Blazers. Game time is 7:00 pm.