The Swan Valley Stampeders scored four goals in the third period to defeat the Virden Oil Capitals 6-4 Thursday night on the road.
The Stampeder offence was led by Justin Keck and Quinn Mulder who each scored a pair of goals, Ethan Matchim added a pair of assists and Goaltender Kobe Grant picked up the win stopping 43/47 shots he faced.
Pushing the play, taking the body and staying out of the penalty box kept the team energized and all that would help lead to the game’s first goal. A heavy for check by Mulder and Jacob Paler-Chow lead to a turnover at the Oil Capitals Blue-line and Paler-Chow wristed one past Eric Reid at 10:26 of the first period. The Oil Caps’ responded just over six minutes later as an errand put went off of Dylan Halliday and through Grant to tie the game 1-1.
Newly acquired forward Keck wasted little time impressing Stampeder fans Thursday night in Virden. The 19-year-old speedster collected his first goal with his new team 3:49 into the middle frame, sliding home a loose puck in front of the net after it careened off the back glass. The Oil Capitals responded a minute and a half later as Carson Buydens collected his eighth of the season tying the game 2-2.
The back-and-forth goal scoring continued early on in the third period. Nathan McInnis gave the Oil Capitals their first lead of the game, scoring his first of the year 3:04 into the final frame. Swan Valley tied the game 53 seconds later as Trey Sauder pressured Reid who came out of the net to play the puck. Sauder’s pressure turned the puck over and he sent it out front to Adam Ward, scoring into an empty net and picking up his first as a Stampeder.
Swan Valley scored back-to-back goals, six seconds apart to jump out in front 5-3. Justin Keck grabbed his second of the night at 15:37 of the third period on an excellent play down low by Matchim and Brad Fortin, giving the Stamps’ a 4-3 lead. Off the ensuing face-off at centre ice, Mulder created a turnover, walked in and ripped it low blocker side at 15:43, giving the Stampeders a 5-3. Halliday answered back for the Oil Capitals 30 seconds later, pulling Virden within one with just over three minutes left in the game. With the goalie out, it was Quinn Mulder scoring into an empty net to seal the deal and the Stampeders skated to a 6-4 win at Tundra Oil & Gas Place Thursday night.
Final shots on goal
Swan Valley – 36
Virden – 47
Tonight’s win improves the Stampeders record to 7-7-0-1 on the season and leapfrogs them into third place overall in the West Divison. Swan Valley now sits just five points behind the Waywayseecappo Wolverines for second place.
The next action for the Swan Valley Stampeders will be at home Saturday, Nov. 6 in front of a ruckus Swan River crowd. Saturday night’s game will see a Remembrance Day opening ceremony take place with two special guests appearing before puck drop.
50/50 and game day tickets for our next home game can be found online at stampedershockey.com