Griffin Chwaliboga had a beautiful backhanded goal on the rebound from Nathan Adrian for the Blues to top the Virden Oil Caps 2-1 in overtime.
The Blues had won the last four straight games heading into tonight’s matchup, while Virden was coming off a three-game losing streak. The Blues had a chance to climb toward the top of the pack, while Virden had a chance to crawl out of the bottom.
The score was tied at zeros after the first with the Blues leading 11-5 in shots.
The Blues’ captain and forward, Kelton Sutherland, opened the scoring just 42 seconds into the second period. It was Sutherland’s third goal of the season. It was assisted by Dylan Cassie and Chwaliboga.
Then, with just 42 left in the second, the Oil Capitals tied it up at 1-1. The visitors’ goal came from Ben Dalke with Mason Fischer picking up the assist.
Virden worked their way back throughout the second, closing out the period with shots on goal tied at 19-19.
The Blues’ Nathan Hillis and the Oil Capitals’ Tristian Cross threw down their gloves in the neutral zone halfway through the third. The linesmen split up Hillis and Cross after each player landed their fair share punches.
Chwaliboga’s goal to win the game came after Virden dominated the puck for the majority of overtime. Netminder Jeremy Link fended off some shots with some solid saves before Nathan Adrian took off to Virden’s end coming out of the penalty box. Adrian got a shot off, and Chwaliboga backed his teammate up with the rebound. Braeden Binda was also credited with an assist on the play.
The Blues play again on Saturday, Oct. 20 as they host the Swan Valley Stampeders at Bell MTS Iceplex. Meanwhile, the Virden Oil Caps’ next game is back in Virden on Sunday, Oct. 21 against the Portage Terriers.