An impressive debut saw the Oilers pick up a point from a challenging weekend.
Rookie goalie Ben Vatis made 24 saves on 26 shots as the Okotoks Oilers dropped a 2-1 decision to the high-octane Cranbrook Bucks in a back-and-forth defensive battle Saturday night at the Viking Rentals Centre.
Kade Duell celebrated his 19th birthday in style with the opening tally, his team leading 20th goal of the season, on the powerplay early in the third period to break the goalless deadlock.
Cranbrook forward Patrick Murphy forced the extra session and ended the shutout bid with just 61 seconds left in regulation as the Bucks pushed for the late equalizer after Okotoks just finishing killing a penalty.
Rasmus Svartström tallied his league-leading 42nd goal at the 4:33 mark of overtime for the Bucks to complete the comeback.
Vatis, who joined the Oilers in January and is a part of a three-goalie tandem with Olivier Ciarlo and Simon Westling, made 25 saves in relief against Chilliwack two weeks prior. Through two games, he’s posted an impressive .925 save percentage.
The Oilers skated to a 6-4 loss to the Brooks Bandits on the road on Friday and earlier in the week were downed 4-3 by the Blackfalds Bulldogs.
Okotoks (21-26-3) sits eighth in the BCHL’s Interior Conference with a six-point lead on the Spruce Grove Saints. The Oilers are one point back of the West Kelowna Warriors.
The Oilers and Warriors meet on Friday at the Viking Rentals Centre in a massive game for playoff positioning. Okotoks then hosts the first place Penticton Vees for the first time on Saturday, March 22 as part of a marquee penultimate weekend of the regular season.
The Vees, Bandits, Trail Smoke Eaters, Salmon Arm Silverbacks, Sherwood Park Crusaders and Bucks have clinched playoff berths in the Interior.
The playoff picture is almost complete in the Coastal Conference.
The Chilliwack Chiefs, Surrey Eagles, Cowichan Valley Capitals, Victoria Grizzlies, Coquitlam Express, Nanaimo Clippers and Alberni Valley Bulldogs have locked down postseason berths with the Langley Rivermen and Prince George Spruce Kings battling it out for the eighth seed.
For more information, go to okotoksoilers.com.
