The struggling St. Albert Steel salvaged a rare point after their second-period meltdown against the Drayton Valley Thunder in Sunday's matinee.
The worst defensive team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League gassed a 4-1 lead, when the Thunder struck three times during a 2:52-minute span in the middle frame.
The Steel regained their advantage before the end of the period, however the Thunder notched the equalizer with the only goal in the third.
After a scoreless five-minute overtime period, the Thunder scored once in the shootout to edge the home team 6-5 in front of only 180 fans at Performance Arena.
"It just didn't go our way today. It's kind of been the sign of the season for us," said forward John Baird.
The Steel are 1-7-2 after going winless in seven games to start the season.
"The boys are battling through it," Baird said. "It's just tough bounces for us right now."
Thursday the Steel erupted for three goals in the last 10 minutes of play to beat the Calgary Canucks 5-4 at the AJHL Showcase in Spruce Grove.
"That was a win we needed to have," said Baird, 20.
The Steel's top point producer with nine points in 10 games knotted the count at two apiece midway through the second against the Canucks (4-7).
"It's always nice to beat your old team," said the former Canuck and third-year AJHL player.
Crusaders prevail
The Steel were unable to make it two wins in row, when the Sherwood Park Crusaders converted a power play goal with 8:29 to play to break a 2-2 tie Saturday at the showcase event. The 3-2 setback was the Steel's third defeat in regulation time and the fourth loss this year against the Crusaders (6-1-1).
"We got that monkey off our backs and then we lose to Sherwood Park again," Baird said. "The monkey is kind of on our backs again and we've just got to fight through it."
His fifth goal of the season tied at 1-1 in the second against the Crusaders. Less than two minutes later, after Cole Linaker pulled the Steel even at 2-2, the Crusaders potted the game winner with the Steel's Jamie Johnson in the box for hooking.
The Steel closed out the contest on the power play but couldn't beat goalie Matt Tomkins. Shots were 11-9 for the Steel in the third and 36-33 overall. Netminder Ty Swabb was the Steel's player of the game.
"We thought we showed well against Sherwood Park to get the win," Baird said.
The Steel scored on their first shot against Thunder goalie Cody Nicolay at 13 seconds, when defenceman Jordan Abt lit the lamp with his fourth goal.
At 2:58 on the power play, blueliner Kyle Scaber wheeled in off the wing and went top shelf on the short side with a great shot to put the Steel up by two.
"We started off quick. The boys were firing. Everyone was committed. Every line was going. We were bodychecking and winning draws. We were doing all the essentials today. Finally as a unit we were playing as a team. Everyone was positive and there was emotion on the bench," Baird said.
Defensive breakdown
Twenty-two seconds into the second, the Thunder potted the first of their four goals on 23 shots in the period.
Colten Meaver and defenceman Dane Olsen's shorthanded unassisted effort put the Steel up by three. Then the floodgates opened against Swabb, who had no help in front of him.
Bryce Sauer restored the Steel's lead with 1:28 left in the second.
"We came out flat a little bit. Their winds caught sail and we kind of stood by and watched," Baird said. "Some of the vets started to get mad. We chatted and we decided to pick it up."
After the Thunder made it 5-5 at 5:48 in the third, the Steel had opportunities to score but captain Taylor Fraser, Tyler Parks and Baird couldn't bury the puck.
Late in the game, the Steel killed off a roughing penalty to rookie defenceman Brett Fagerheim.
In the three-on-three five-minute overtime period, Fraser was penalized for slashing by referee Fraser Lawrence. Swabb (0-3-2, 4.50 GAA) made at least three clutch saves to keep the score intact. The Steel's man of the match faced 56 shots overall. Nicolay was tested 42 times.
The shootout went into a fourth round to determine the winner. Nathan Smith beat Swabb on the stick side and Meaver did very little on his opportunity as the next shooter.
"The boys came out hard in the third. We had tough bounces here and there and the next thing you know we're in overtime. We got a bad penalty too but there is not much you can do about it," Baird said. "Today we thought we would get another win, we just didn't get the bounce."
Offensive threat
Baird was held pointless for only the fifth game this season.
"I would like to be doing better than I am right now. I don't think I'm getting the points and the bounces that I'm wishing for. I had 11 shots in one game against Sherwood Park [4-1 loss Sept. 27] and I had a disallowed goal," he said. "Sooner or later it's going to come."
The Steel are Baird's third AJHL team after stints with the Spruce Grove Saints (3-1-4 in 10 games) and the Canucks (32-29-61 in 71 games). In June the Steel dealt centre Derek Bacon to the Canucks for the Leduc product.
"Last year was tough. I started off really well [six goals and three assists in 10 games]. I had an opportunity to play for Can West [at the 2010 World Junior A Challenge] and I did very well in my tryouts," Baird said. "After tryouts I came back to play in Calgary and I ended up going up to Fort McMurray and blew out my knee. I had surgery and missed 30 games and it was tough to battle back from that."
Baird finished the season with 14 goals and 24 points in 30 games with the Canucks. His career AJHL totals include 40 goals, 74 points and 28 penalty minutes in 91 games.
Baird played both wing positions in junior before joining the Steel as a centreman.
"[Head coach Greg] Parks wanted to try me out in the middle. It's been working out but I pulled my tricep so I'm not taking draws. He put me back on the wing so I could play there. I hope to heal soon."
The five-foot-nine skater is one of seven players on the Steel roster in their final season of junior.
"We want to make a playoff run as 20-year-olds. We don't want the dream to be over. We want to go out with a bang."
This weekend the Steel play three games in three days on the road against the Canmore Eagles (1-8), Okotoks Oilers (3-5) and Canucks.
"We've got to tie a couple of wins together."
