Blackfalds Bulldogs Bonnyville Pontiacs Brooks Bandits Calgary Canucks Camrose Kodiaks Canmore Eagles Drayton Valley Thunder Drumheller Dragons Fort McMurray Oil Barons Grande Prairie Storm Lloydminster Bobcats Okotoks Oilers Olds Grizzlys Sherwood Park Crusaders Spruce Grove Saints Whitecourt Wolverines

VIDEO: Bandits still winless against Oilers after falling 6-3 at home

BROOKS, AB (November 21, 2017) – The Okotoks Oilers (21-2-1) scored the first three goals of the game and never looked back, withstanding two comeback attempts by the host Brooks Bandits (16-9-1) on Tuesday night en route to their fifth straight win over their divisional rivals, 6-3 at the Centennial Regional Arena.

Blake Wells paced the visitors with two goals, while Nathan Plessis (Salmon Arm, B.C.) had a goal and an assist for Brooks. The win gives the Oilers a ten-point lead on Brooks for the South division lead, with two games in hand that could extend that lead to 14 points.

Jacob Bernard-Docker opened the scoring in the final minute of the first period on a snap wrister from the right circle to give Okotoks the early lead. 9:08 into the second, Tanner Laderoute doubled that lead on the power play after spinning at the left side of the net and potting a puck five-hole on Mitch Benson (Windsor, ON) to double the lead. At 13:05, Wells gave the Oilers a 3-0 lead on a wrist shot from the left circle.

The Bandits made it interesting late, scoring twice in the span of less than two minutes; the first a Plessis shot from the slot on an odd-man rush with 5 minutes left, and the second an Ocean Wiesblatt (Calgary, AB) backhander from the right side of the net at the 16:57 mark to make it a one-goal game after 2 periods.

The Oilers seized control in the third, however, as Wells got his second of the game on a backdoor tap in at 5:41, and Dylan Holloway scored on a breakaway backhander at 9:28 to make it 5-2. Brandon Scanlin (Hamilton, ON) blasted home a power play goal at 18:01 to get the Bandits within two, but Dennis Cesana (Providence, RI) rang the post with a chance with just over a minute left from the slot, and Ryan Roberts scored on a power play point shot with 4 seconds left to notch the 6-3 final score.

The Oilers outshot the Bandits 31-30, going 2 for 5 on their power play while the Bandits were 1 for 8.

Brooks continues its three game home stand this weekend, beginning with a Friday night matchup with the Calgary Canucks. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM for 80s Night at the CRA, presented by the Brooks Hotel. Tickets are available online at tickets.brooksbandits.ca.