One day later and a world apart.
Following an airtight double overtime thriller to open the playoffs the Okotoks Oilers put an exclamation point on its consecutive triumph in a 7-1 romp Friday at Pason Centennial Arena to take a 2-0 lead over the Camrose Kodiaks in the best-of-five opening round series.
“We prepared really well for the game today,” said Oilers forward Austin Wong. “We got our rest last night and came back really strong and they didn’t seem as ready.”
Wong opened the floodgates less than two minutes after puck-drop.
The rookie forward powered his way to the net and tapped in his own rebound for his first career playoff marker. Trey Degraaf would double the lead on a deflection midway through the frame and Nolan Thompson completed the opening period scoring when he crashed into the net to cash in his first of the post-season.
It only got worse for the visitors in the middle stanza.
Degraaf slid in his second of the contest on the powerplay, the first of three on the man advantage in the period alone for Okotoks.
Carson Beers fired another one home on a slap shot on a 5-on-3 powerplay. Wong potted his second in short order on another rebound tally.
Tanner Laderoute completed the offensive outburst when he was left all alone near the blue paint to pot his team leading third marker of the playoffs.
Beers, who had been playing terrific hockey on the back-end, was lost late in the frame on a game misconduct for a high cross-check on Camrose’s Josh Zablocki.
In a penalty filled final stanza, the Kodiaks got on the board with 2:55 left in regulation through Tate Coughlin.
Playing with terrific run support Riley Morris made 21 saves in the runaway victory.
Both teams had every excuse to be a bit winded entering proceedings.
The series opener took five periods to settle as Laderoute provided the game-winner eight minutes into the second overtime in Okotoks’ gripping 3-2 win on Thursday evening.
Following a day off the series continues March 12 in Camrose for Game 3.
“It’s a huge difference being tied 1-1 and up 2-0,” Wong said. “Hopefully we can pull it off on Sunday.
“We haven’t a lot of success there, but coach (head coach Tyler Deis) is going to get us really prepared and we can carry it on to their rink.”
If necessary, Game 4 is March 13 in the Rose City. Should the series go the distance Game 5 would be back at the Pason on March 15 at 7 p.m.
For more information go to okotoksoilers.ca
