The Okotoks Oilers battled to the bitter end during their first appearance in the BCHL playoffs, sweeping the Spruce Grove Saints in a best-of-five and then going seven games with the Brooks Bandits.
While the Oilers were handed the series loss in game seven with a 5-1 score, the Green and Gold can hold their heads high as they did better than a lot of people thought they could accomplish. Plus, they not only handed the Bandits three losses in seven games but also gave them their first loss on home ice all season.
The first period in game seven was the "Christian Green Show" who has shown that he continues to get better every game making 17 saves in just the first period alone. The Bandits would get a goal from Calen Fitzpatrick, who ended the game with a hat trick, to make the game 1-0 for Brooks.
Nathan Free would add to the lead 4:44 into the second period. The goal would end up being the eventual game-winner.
Rylan Brown got the Oilers on the board with just over three minutes left in the second frame. Sam Huck would make a pass to Jagger Tapper from the point, Tapper would then skate around the boards and then make a beautiful pass to Brown who pulled a toe drag and hit the mesh in the back of the net for a goal.
Tapper finished the playoffs with 12 points in 10 games.
Fitzpatrick answered only 21 seconds later, getting his second on the night. Nick Peluso and Fitzpatrick would each get goals in the third to finish up the goal-scoring.
Green made 41 saves in the loss, doing everything he could to try and help lift the Oilers to the next round.
Bandits now move on to face the Sherwood Park Crusaders in the BCHL Alberta Division playoffs
Wed, May 22, 1:30 PM
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