SPRUCE GROVE, AB (February 10, 2018) – Mitch Benson (Windsor, ON) made 28 saves on 29 shots from the top-ranked offence in the AJHL, but it wasn’t enough on Saturday night as the Spruce Grove Saints shut out the Brooks Bandits (38-12-1) by a 1-0 score at the Grant Fuhr Arena.
It snapped the Bandits’ 11-game win streak and was the team’s first loss since January 5th. Outshot 29-25 in the game, it was the first time the Bandits had been outshot in a game since November 21st as well.
Spruce Grove dictated the pace of play in the first, outshooting the Bandits 11-6, before Brooks turned the tide and outshot the Saints 9-8 in the second. But the only goal came in an even third period with the shots tied 10-10. After two shots by Bandit forward Simon Boyko (Mississauga, ON) were blocked in the slot, the Saints rushed up ice and found themselves with a 2-on-1 rush. A shot by Chris Van Os-Shaw ricocheted to an open Chase Olsen at the backdoor who swept the puck by a sprawling Benson to notch the 1-0 final.
The Bandits went 0 for 3 on the power play but a perfect 4 for 4 on the penalty kill against the league’s top-ranked power play.
Brooks returns home Tuesday night for a Twofer Tuesday matchup with the Calgary Canucks, with tickets priced at 2 for $15, and drinks priced down to $3 at the arena bar. Tickets are available online at tickets.brooksbandits.ca.