The Lacombe Generals were itching for some holiday home cooking against the Stony Plain Eagles and the Innisfail Eagles after being on the road since Nov. 17th - going 2-2 in that span.
The Generals were also hoping to pick up their third and fourth straight wins, after uncharacteristically losing three in a row prior to that.
“We started playing the right way after last weekend in Rosetown,” Forward Jesse Todd said. “We hit the reset button after losing three in row, which hasn’t happened since I have been here.”
Luckily for the Army, it would be clear sailing - with Lacombe rolling through Stony Plain 8-2 on Friday and 7-3 on Sunday over Innisfail.
The first period against Stony Plain would be highlighted by relentless Generals pressure. Adam Huxley would kick off the scoring after Eagles Netminder Luke Siemens mishandled the puck behind his own net. Giffen Nyren followed that up with a goal of his own after Todd threaded a nifty pass on an odd man rush - making it 2-0 for Lacombe.
Eagle Brad Bourque would get one back for Stony Plain on an odd-man rush of his own - but the Generals would immediately get it back on a Doug Jessey point shot, leading to a 3-1 Generals lead heading into the second. Lacombe continued to pad their lead in the second - adding two goals of their own, while preventing the Eagles from cutting into their lead.
Kyle Stroh would continue his hot streak after finishing another nifty pass from Todd. Kyle Sheen would add Lacombe’s second of the frame on a five-hole, breakaway goal that put Lacombe up 5-1 heading into the third.
The third period would see frustration boil over. After a Todd wrist shot put the Generals up 6-1, Nyren got caught up with two Eagle players. Nyren responded with a retaliation slash that led to the Eagles scoring their second of the game by Darcy Deroose on the powerplay.
The Eagles, however, were still irritated by the Nyren slash and picked up a cross-checking penalty, followed by an unsportsmanlike conduct call leading to an extended two minute five on three.
The Generals would take advantage of both calls, first with a Brennan Evans point shot, followed by Valcourt snipe from the slot — leading the the final score of 8-2.
Todd said his guys sare starting to hold teams to lower scoring totals.
“Giving up only two goals tonight was huge and we limited their shot which was another big thing,” Todd said. “At the beginning of the year, we kept giving up 40 shots and tonight was only 22 — we want to keep doing that.”
Lacombe goalie Mike Salmons made 20 saves for the win and the Generals will look to continue their winning streak when they host the Innisfail Eagles on Sunday at 6 p.m. at the Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex.
The Generals followed that up by scoring five straight goals in the first and second period of their game against Innisfail. Innisfail would rally back with three straight of their own by Stroh and Kyle Ross short-handed would put the game away for good — leading to the 7-3 final.
The Generals now will take a break until the new year when they face off against Rosetown at home against the Rosetown Red Wings.
“There is not many games left. There is only seven games left and then we are in the playoffs, so we want to start building the right way and we are starting to do that,” Todd added.
todd.vaughan@lacombeexpress.com
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