BROOKS, AB (November 25, 2017) – The Brooks Bandits (17-9-1) snapped their three-game losing streak on Saturday night, scoring two goals in the span of 11 seconds in the first period and never looking back en route to a 5-1 win over the Calgary Mustangs at the Centennial Regional Arena in Brooks.
The Bandits outshot the Mustangs 32-17 in the game, allowing just 9 shots in the final two periods combined, despite having only 1 of the 6 power plays in the game.
Brooks opened the scoring on its one and only power play 16:35 into the game when Dennis Cesana (Providence, RI) sent a slap pass from the right point to a waiting Conner Jean (Oakland, MI) at the left side of the net. The Bandits’ leading goal scorer deflected the puck past Mustang goalie Kurtis Chapman for his team-leading 16th goal of the year and a 1-0 Brooks advantage.
On the ensuing shift, Nolan Thompson (Calgary, AB) carried in to the right circle and feathered a pass across to Tyler Carangelo (Hamden, CT) for a quick wrist shot goal and a 2-0 lead just 11 seconds after the opening tally. The Bandits headed into the first intermission with the 2-0 advantage, just the sixth time all season that Brooks has led after the first.
In the second, Cale List (Petawawa, ON) made a backhand-to-forehand dangle at the left side of the Brooks net and flipped a puck past Chapman to make it a 3-0 lead, before Nathan Walker scored from the left halfboards to cut the deficit back to two. But that shot would be the only one to get by Mitch Benson (Windsor, ON) who made 16 saves on 17 shots for the win.
In the third, Jake Theis (Chanhassen, MN) fired a shot bar-down and in off an odd-man rush for a 4-1 lead at the 6:12 mark, while Brandon Scanlin (Hamilton, ON) completed the scoring with a slap shot goal from the left point at 11:07.
With time ticking away, Thompson dropped the gloves with Mustang veteran Ryan Stoynich for a lengthy and spirited tilt in which the Bandit forward landed the majority of punches, including an impactful uppercut just before the linesmen jumped in.
The Bandits next take on the Calgary Canucks on the road Thursday night at the Max Bell Centre in the first of a home-and-home series that concludes that Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM with pre-game coverage starting at 6:45 on Real Country 105.7.