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Bandits battle back besting Bobcats 3-1

Nov 24, 2018 | 9:40 AM

LLOYDMINSTER, SK – The Brooks Bandits (23-2) extended their win streak to nine games, bouncing back from a 1-0 first period deficit to beat the host Lloydminster Bobcats 3-1 on Friday night.

The Bandits, down to just four healthy defencemen, were forced to start two forwards in Ryan Mahshie (Stoney Creek, ON) and Orca Wiesblatt (Calgary, AB) on the back end. But the team still outshot Lloydminster 39-25, riding a 24-save performance from Pierce Charleson (Aurora, ON) for his league-leading 20th win of the year.

Lloydminster outshot Brooks 10-9 in the opening frame, opening the scoring with just over 4 minutes left when Chance Adrian scored on a diving shot off a net front scramble.

But in the opening minute of the second, Nathan Plessis (Salmon Arm, B.C.) deflected a shot from the half-wall from Jordan Di Cicco (London, ON) past goalie Curtis Meger to tie the game up.

It took until the third for that 1-1 deadlock to break, when Bobby Harrison (Waterdown, ON) won a battle at the end wall and fed the puck to Simon Boyko (Mississauga, ON) in the slot, whose quick wrister beat Meger for the game-winning goal.

At the 8:40 mark, Arnaud Vachon (Ajax, ON) drove into the Bobcat zone and ripped a wrist shot by Meger for his league-leading 19th goal of the year, and league-leading 8th power play goal of the year, to notch the 3-1 final score.

The Bandits will aim for their second double-digit win streak of the year Saturday night when they take on the Sherwood Park Crusaders at 7 PM. Pre-game coverage starts at 6:45 PM on Real Country 105.7.