The Swan Valley Stampeders offence was all but silenced Saturday night in Virden, dropping a 5-2 decision to the Oil Capitals at Tundra Oil & Gas Place.
The offence that did exist was led by Carter Cockburn and Trey Sauder who picked up a goal each, while Dylan Black took the loss in net.
The Stampeders had some pep in their step to kick off tonight’s contest in Virden but it was the home team who scored the game’s first two goals. Carson Buydens tipped home his seventh of the year 8:14 into the first period, killing all the Stampeder momentum in its tracks. Virden added to their lead eight minutes as Colten Miller found his way to the front of the net, also tipping one past Black eight minutes later.
Black was called upon to face yet another penalty shot this year. His first attempt wasn’t very successful in Swan River against Neepawa but tonight he shut the door, keeping his team at a 2-0 deficit. The Stampeders came alive after that massive stop by Black. Captain Cockburn took things into his own hands, catching a clearing attempt, beating a defender and back-handed home his third of the year 7:47 into the second period.
Scoring continued in the third period as Tyler Thoendel was the reciepient of a tic-tac-toe play,snapping home his fifth of the year on the power play at 6:41. Braden Fisher was allowed to dance around the offence zone, untouched and he sent a wrister on net that Black didn’t see at 11:42. Jackson Orr added to the Oil Caps’ lead scoring from his own zone into an empty net at 18:40. Sauder added a power play goal with 15 seconds left in the game but it wasn’t enough and the Oil Capitals skated to a 5-2 win Saturday night at Tundra Oil & Gas Place.
Next action for the Stampeders will be Thursday, Nov 4 when they travel to Virden to face the Oil Capitals in their third game of a four-game mini-series.