Crusaders take 2-1 series lead

The best-of-seven series shifted to Sherwood Park for Game 3. Again, the team that scored first won the game.

5:39 into the game, the Crusaders opened the scoring with Quincy Supprien putting home his own rebound. Michael Mikan and Conner Broadhead picked up the assists. Then late in the first period, the Crusaders would jump out to a 2-0 lead thanks to Rockston Ror-Chow finishing off a pass from Brant Romaniuk. Bode Sampair picked up the second assist while forcing the turnover.

Shots on goal were 12-6 for the Crusaders.

The Bulldogs tried to turn the tide of the game in the second. Nikita Meshcheryakov scored an early goal as he drove to the net and beat Filip Vavro with a backhand shot. Dean Toskos and Nikita Ivashchenko picked up the assists at the 3:09 mark. Seconds later, the Crusaders would regain their 2 goal lead with a goal from Ryan White at 3:23. Braeden O’Keefe and Supprien had the assist. The Bulldogs outshot the Crusaders 12-5 in the second.

In the third period, the Bulldogs would get back within 1 with a goal from Nicholas DiPaolo. Danny Hussa blocked a shot, then eventually led the rush the other way for a 2-on-1. Hussa toe dragged around a sliding defender and sent a back door pass for DiPaolo to tap in. Alex Bosland picked up a secondary assist on that goal at 4:13.

The Crusaders would regain their 2 goal lead on the power play after the Bulldogs missed a shorthanded chance of their own. The Crusaders had a 3-on-1 in transition where Mikan found O’Keefe for a back-door tap-in. Stevie Grumley picked up the secondary assist at the 11:35 mark.

It didn’t take the Bulldogs long to respond. Braydan Smith recovered a loose puck and found Luke Dahlen, who ripped a shot through traffic into the back of the net. That goal came at 12:03.

But before the period was out, the Crusaders would add the back-breaking goal to make the final score 5-3. Supprien found Kent Moors for a tap-in goal at 17:52.

The Bulldogs outshot the Crusaders 24-23. Blackfalds was unable to score on its lone power play opportunity. Sherwood Park capitalized on 2 of its 3 opportunities.

The series resumes Wednesday night in Sherwood Park for Game 4 as the Crusaders hold a 2-1 series lead.