Generals 4 Chiefs 3 (OT)
When the Alberta senior AAA hockey semifinal game Monday at the arena went into overtime, the Bentley Generals had the Horse Lake Chiefs right where they wanted them.
“We feel the longer a game goes the better chance we have of wearing a team down,” said Generals head coach Brian Sutter, after Chris Falloon’s goal at 18:37 of overtime gave Bentley a 4-3 victory before more than 1,000 fans and tied the best-of-seven series at a game apiece.
“For us, we have to keep playing the same way, we have to keep coming and keep coming and that’s not easy to do,” Sutter continued, “You have to get everybody to buy in and you have to coach like a son-of-a-gun because it one guy lets up for a second you turn the puck over.”
The Generals committed several turnovers in the opening period Monday as the Chiefs employed a fierce forecheck and a quick transition game to grab a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Jesse Dudas beat Gens netminder Travis Yonkman from the high slot six minutes into the contest and Scott Taje connected seven minutes later.
Bentley got on the board late in the second period when Scott Kalinchuk’s point shot deflected off Kyle Sheen and past Chiefs goaltender Jase Weslosky, but the visitors restored their two-goal cushion 6:37 into the third stanza as Travis Dunstall connected with Bentley’s Darryl LaPlante serving a slashing penalty.
The Generals, who were the better team in the final 30 minutes of regulation time, battled back with goals by Travis Brigley at 10:56 and Curtis Austring at 13:42 to force overtime. Brigley took a behind-the-net feed from Falloon and beat Weslosky from close range, and Austring converted a perfect pass from Kyle Wanvig on a two-on-one break.
Both Weslosky, who finished with 41 saves, and Yonkman, who blocked 34 shots overall, made some huge stops in the extra frame before Falloon pounced on a rebound in front of the Horse Lake net and closed the deal.
The win was almost a must for the Generals, who fell 6-5 in overtime Sunday at Bentley despite outshooting the Chiefs 54-28.
“It was a tough game yesterday and again today,” said Falloon. “We got ourselves down early, but we started to get back to our game plan about halfway through.
You could see the switch in momentum there. They (Chiefs) have a good team and they make you work for everything so it’s nice to get the win and be back in the series.”
The Generals generated the winner from a faceoff in the Horse Lake end.
“It was a food faceoff win by Brigley and (Kyle) Sheen and (Jason) Lundmark made nice plays to get the puck to the net,” said Falloon. “I was in the right place at the right time and put it home.
“It was just one of those things. Like the old saying goes, ‘go to the net and good things will happen’.”
On Sunday, Tyler Shantz scored at 5:39 of overtime to give the Chiefs a 1-0 series lead. Dunstall, Dudas, Kip Noble, Mike Lalonde and Travis Cunningham notched the other Horse Lake markers, while Paul Cabana tallied twice for the Generals and Brigley, Sean Robertson and Donny Lloyd each scored once.
Weslosky turned aside 49 shots for the winners. Yonkman made 22 saves at the other end.
The series continues with games Saturday and Sunday in Horse Lake. Game 5 will be played March 2 at Bentley.
• The Sylvan Lake Admirals gave up four third-period goals Saturday in a 5-3 loss to the host Stony Plain Eagles and now trail 2-0 in the other provincial senior AAA semifinal.
Brett Holmberg scored twice for the Admirals, while Ernie Stewart also connected for the visitors and Jordan Ramstead made 39 saves. Brandt Middleton fired two goals for the Eagles, who got a 26-save performance from Derek Shybunka.
Blair Zahara and Doug Auchenberg each struck for two goals as Stony Plain took the opener of the series 7-3 Friday at Sylvan Lake. Luke Hanna, Lucas Isley and Dan Ehrman supplied the Admirals goals.
Dave Rathjen stopped 33 shots for the Eagles. Ramstead made 30 saves in a losing cause.
The third game of the best-of-seven set goes Friday at 8:30 p.m. at Sylvan Lake.
• Bobby Coles’ goal in the second overtime period Saturday gave the Carstairs Redhawks a 5-4 win over the visiting Innisfail Eagles and a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven senior AA/A series.
Ian Brander fired three goals for the Eagles, who got a single from Sean Neumeier. Innisfail fired 36 shots at Carstairs netminder Kyle Seidel, while Wade Waters made 50 saves for the Eagles.
Game 3 is set for Friday at 8:30 p.m. at Innisfail.
gmeachem@www.reddeeradvocate.com