Your Crusaders returned home on Tuesday night for Game 3 of their second-round playoff series against the Brooks Bandits. Unfortunately, the Cru also returned to Sherwood Park with a 2-0 deficit in the series, with the Bandits picking up a pair of victories at home in Games 1 (3-1) and 2 (6-3).
First Period
It wasn’t exactly the start your Crusaders were looking for, unfortunately. The game’s first penalty was called less than a minute in, with the Crusaders’ Kent Moors earning a high-sticking call. However, a shorthanded rush from Max Ly not only created the game’s first scoring opportunity but also earned the Bandits’ Drew Mackie a trip to the sin bin, ending the Bandits’ powerplay early. Unfortunately, that didn’t matter: just over a minute-and-a-half into the period, Parker Lalonde ripped a wrist shot from the right-side faceoff dot, giving Brooks a 1-0 lead.
That wouldn’t be the end of the Crusaders’ rough start. Shortly after the Bandits’ goal, captain Kale Dach took the Crusaders’ second high-sticking penalty of the stanza. Fortunately, this time, the Crusaders were successful on the kill. However, after a pair of power plays, the Bandits hit the first media break with a 10-1 advantage in shots.
The Crusaders looked to pick up the equalizer with just under six minutes left in the first. However, despite reviewing the play, no goal was determined, leaving the Bandits with the 1-0 advantage.
That wouldn’t be the last bit of bad luck in the first for your Cru. With just over three minutes left, the Crusaders earned another power play. However, it was the Bandits who were able to capitalize when a poke check from James Venne took an unfortunate bounce and wound up in the back of the Crusaders’ net. Parker Lalonde was credited with his second goal of the game on the play.
Though the Crusaders were able to tighten up the shot clock, it was the Bandits who exited the first period with a 2-0 lead.
Second Period
The first few minutes of the second stanza came fast and furious. Both Sherwood Park and Brooks earned grade-A scoring chances early in the period, including a near miss for the Crusaders that rang off the post. Just over three minutes into the frame, a pair of coincidental minors were handed to the Bandits’ Jack Rosensteel (unsportsmanlike conduct) and the Crusaders’ Marko Stojkov (tripping). Exactly one minute later, Rosensteel was joined in the box by teammate Matej Teply, who earned a trip to the box on a holding call. However, the Bandits were able to kill off both penalties. Shortly after, Brooks earned themselves a powerplay of their own after Lucas Brennan was called for tripping. This time, the Bandits were able to capitalize and, courtesy of a Cooper Pierson goal, found themselves with a 3-0 lead. Though the Crusaders were able to kill off a pair of penalties to Jude Bray (cross-checking) and Dalton MacGillivray (roughing), they were unfortunately unable to put a tally in the goal column, entering the third period down a trio of goals.
Third Period
The third period was a rough-and-tumble affair, with both the Crusaders and Bandits ramping up the physicality in the final frame. Unfortunately, the additional pressure didn’t result in a goal for the Crusaders early in the frame, but did lead to a pair of penalties to Joel Purdom (roughing) and Masun Fleece (interference).
It was on the latter of the penalties that the Bandits were able to capitalize once again. Shortly after Fleece made his way to the box, Luke Bibby put one past James Venne and collected his fifth of the playoffs.
Unfortunately, that was the end of the scoring, with the Bandits taking Game 3 by a score of 4-0.
News & Notes
- Defenders John Alex Banks and Cooper Sharp entered Tuesday’s game with a pair of assists apiece, leading the Cru in scoring through the second round.
- James Venne made his seventh consecutive start for the Crusaders, saving 35 of 39 shots.
Next Up
Your Crusaders return to action tomorrow night (April 23rd) at the Randy Rosen Rink for Game 4 of our second-round matchup against the Bandits. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office one hour prior to puck drop.
