Your Drumheller Dragons need points to keep themselves in the playoff conversation and did what they could this weekend to do so.
It all started on Friday night with a visit by the expansion Devon Xtreme. The Xtreme have had a tough first season as they are currently sitting last in the league but this is a team you can’t take lightly. The Dragons found this out early.
In the first, the Xtreme had a number of great chances and the Dragons were fortunate to still be tied 0-0 midway through the period. Drumheller would strike first, on the man advantage, as Bradley Gallo scored his 25th of the season from Ayden Peters and Tate Yule at 12:18. With 1:44 left in the period, Devon would tie the game with a goal by Xander Schulte. The first period would end tied 1-1.
The Dragons would capitalize on the powerplay again at 6:52 of the second period with again Bradley Gallo finding the back of the net for his second of the game, 26th of the year, 11th powerplay goal, assisted by Kai Matthew and Tate Yule. Drumheller would add one with 27 seconds left in the period, again on the powerplay, when Ayden Peters scored his 14th of the season, from Ellis Mieyette, making it 3-1 heading into the third.
Devon would not give up and while short-handed early in the third would get one back. Jaxen Smyth scored at 2:16 to cut the deficit to 3-2. Then, just over two minutes later, Owen Mastroianni would score for the Xtreme to tie the game 3-3. Drumheller would score the game winner with 9:13 remaining in the game when Nick McLennan scored his second of the year from Brec Christenson and Tate Yule, making the final score 4-3 Dragons.
Shots on Goal
Devon – 26
Drumheller – 31
Powerplays
Devon – 0/6
Drumheller – 3/6
3 Stars
- Bradley Gallo DRM (2 G)
- Ayden Peters DRM (1 G, 1 A)
- Tate Yule DRM (3 A)
The Dragons weekend would conclude with a home afternoon matchup against the Camrose Kodiaks on Sunday. Going into the game, the Kodiaks lead the season series two games to one and unfortunately for Camrose, their top scorer, Sam Lozinski, was out due to injury.
The first period would be an exciting one with both teams having quality chances, including a couple of posts hit by Dragons forward Kai Matthew. The game would remain tied 0-0 after one, with the shots at 10-9 in favour of the Kodiaks.
Camrose would open the scoring in the second at 1:04 with a goal by Dylan Bidyk. The Dragons would tie the game quickly, on the powerplay, with Bradley Gallo scoring his 27th of the year, from Ayden Peters and Easton Daneualt. Drumheller would take the lead at 6:40 of the period when Nick McLennan scored his third of the year (second in as many games), from Aiden Connell and Tate Yule. Then, again on the powerplay, Bradley Gallo would score his second of the game (28) from Will McLaughlin and Easton Daneualt at 13:24. The Dragons weren’t done as with 3:43 left, Cameron Johnsen scored his first on home ice (2) from Ellis Mieyette, making it 4-1. With 29 seconds left in the second period, Ayden Peters would score his second in as many games (15) from Will McLaughlin and Kai Matthew. The Dragons would take the 5-1 lead into the third period.
No scoring in the third but Camrose would have their chances, and Dragons netminder Sean Cootes would make a number of key saves to keep the game 5-1 for your Dragons.
Shots on Goal
Camrose – 39
Drumheller – 29
Powerplays
Camrose – 0/2
Drumheller – 2/8
3 Stars
- Bradley Gallo (2 G and a fight)
- Ayden Peters (1 G)
- Sean Cootes (38 saves on 39 shots)
With the five powerplay goals scored in the two games, your Dragons have the lead in powerplay goals and powerplay opportunities this season with 40 in 190 chances, and 13 of those have been scored by Bradley Gallo. Only the Fort McMurray Oil Barons have been short-handed more than the Dragons this season.
Drumheller has a big game this weekend as they travel to Drayton Valley to face the Thunder for the final time this season. Drayton Valley is only five points back of Drumheller for the final playoff spot in the AJHL South Division, and have two games in hand. The Dragons will then make their first visit to Devon on Saturday night. We’ll have both of those games on the “Home of the Dragons” New Country 92.5 with Jason Blanke and Boedy Shields, starting at 6:45 PM with the Western GM Pregame show both Friday and Saturday nights.
Comments