Tyler Kress scored with 29 seconds left in overtime to give the Bonnyville Sr. Pontiacs a 3-2 win over the Big Valley Oil Kings on Saturday night at the RJ Lalonde Arena.
The goal capped off a successful comeback for the Pontiacs who had trailed throughout the game, even though they controlled most of the play.
The Pontiacs outshot the Kings 54-30 over the course of the game, but ran into a hot opposing goaltender in Big Valley's Chance Clark.
Clark held strong and Matt Kinnunen found the back of the net twice in the first period to give the visitors a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.
“Their goalie played well and we made him look good,” said Bonnyville co-head coach Shaun Hebert. “We had too many chances that we didn't bury. We could have ended those guys in the first period, but we kept them in it. They just played a great road game. “
It didn't take long for Bonnyville to finally start burying their chances.
Just over a minute into the second frame Lucas Isley found an open Ty Carey who walked in and beat Clark for his first of the season.
After killing off a minor penalty the Pontiacs were immediately sent on a powerplay of their own.
The Bonnyville squad cycled the puck around the offensive zone for over a minute before finding an open Joel Olszowka at the point. He blew a slap shot past Clark to tie the game 2-2.
“We were working it pretty good down low and cycling the puck. We had good chemistry on my line,” said Pontiac Niko Bourget. “We ran into a hot goalie tonight and we were lucky to come out with the win.”
The goalies continued to steal the show in the third period, as both netminders made some game saving desperation saves to keep the game tied.
Bonnyville dominated the Kings throughout the frame outshooting them 22-9 in the third period.
Their best chance came with about five minutes left in the third, when Carey found himself on a mini breakaway after receiving a pass just inside the Big Valley zone.
Carey pulled off a nifty forehand-backhand deke, but was unable to stuff the puck past Clark.
Minutes later, with time ticking down in the period, the Kings got a break of their own. They pulled off a perfect give-and-go passing play in front of the Pontiac goal, which forced goaltender Josh Paul to make a huge sprawling save as he dove across from one post to the other to stop the shot.
“Michael Desjarlais, Niko Bourget and Denis Cadrin were flying out there tonight,” said Hebert. “They were snake bit. I counted about ten good scoring opportunities that line had alone. They were flying all night long. I gave them a little more ice time but they just weren't finding the net.”
Overtime saw the two teams trade chances before the Pontiacs ended it with time ticking down.
A Cadrin shot was kicked out to the side of the net, where Kress was there to whack at it. After the outstretched stick of Clark stopped his initial shot, Kress' second shot, while sliding on his knees, made it past the goaltender and into the net.
The win has the Pontiacs atop the Battle River Hockey League with a 3-1 record.
Bonnyville will entertain the same Big Valley squad next Saturday at the RJ Lalonde Arena. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m.
‘“I don't think we have to change anything. We played well enough tonight,” said Hebert. “The goals they scored were off mistakes we made in our own zone. We basically gave them those first two goals and then we were playing on our heels to get back into it.”
The next matchup will see Logan Isley and Levi Ansell back into the lineup for the Sr. Pontiacs and Coleman Wadell getting the start in goal.
