OKOTOKS, AB (September 24, 2022) — The Okotoks Oilers’ home power-play woes continued Saturday as they went 0-for-5 in a 3–2 loss to the Drumheller Dragons at Okotoks Centennial Arena.
After going 0-for-9 on the PP in Friday’s home opener against the Olds Grizzlys, the Oilers (2–2) again failed to convert with the extra attacker against Drumheller.
The Dragons had no such issues, with Sam Simard scoring his first of two second-period goals on a 5-on-4 advantage to complete the visitors’ comeback from a 2–0 deficit.
Oilers forward Austin Reschny (Macklin, SK) opened the scoring 10:21 into the first period with his second goal in as many games. The second-year forward appears to have developed a penchant for whipping heavy wrist shots past opposing goaltenders, a worrying turn of events for AJHL South Division goaltenders.
Brett Huxley (Calgary, AB) assisted on Reschny’s goal and one-upped himself early in the second period, going end-to-end with speed before firing a rocket of a shot past Drumheller goaltender William Dyke to make it a 2–0 hockey game.
But the Oilers only got to enjoy their two-goal lead for 68 seconds. Connor Poffenroth cut the Dragons’ deficit in half at the 4:13 mark of the middle frame before Simard scored back-to-back goals, with his second — and the eventual winner — coming with just 1:51 remaining in the period.
The Oilers came out of the gates flying on Saturday, outshooting the Dragons 12–6 in the first period, but struggled to find their footing to the same extent over the final 40 minutes. Drumheller edged Okotoks 14–12 in the shots column during the second period before shifting into lockdown mode for the third, in which both teams managed just seven apiece.
Oilers starting goaltender Parker Sawka made 24 saves in his fourth appearance of the season. It remains to be seen whether the fourth-year goaltender will make his fifth consecutive start when the Oilers return to action on September 27 to face the Calgary Canucks at Max Bell Centre