Spak forces game seven with a heroic overtime goal

The Okotoks Oilers have now forced a do-or-die game seven with the Brooks Bandits after winning 3-2 thanks to the heroics from team captain Dean Spak 11:27 into the overtime period.

Spak would get two goals on the night and cashed in for his third game-winning goal during this year's BCHL playoffs. With six wins so far in the postseason, he has got 50 per cent of the game-winning goals coming in clutch when called upon.

The first period saw the Bandits outshoot the Oilers 6-1 until the middle frame of the first, Oilers would get their opportunities in the second half of the frame, evening the shot count at 8-8 at the period's end.

The second would continue to see stellar play from both Christian Green and Johnny Hicks, Oilers and Bandits netminders, until the score broke open with a late-period power play goal from Spak just over a minute left in the frame. The Green and Gold would finish the period up 1-0.

Puck crossing the line for Spak's first goal on the night.

Okotoks would find the back of the net again in the third period when Thomas Matte made a great breakout pass to Jagger Tapper. Tapper would get in alone, fake the shot then go forehand for a pretty goal making it 2-0 Oilers.

The Bandits would get some late-game dramatics, scoring two goals late in the third period tying the game up at 2-2. The second Bandits goal came off of a powerplay after Brett Wilson leveled Quinn McCall and the Green Army was very vocal in their disapproval of the call on Wilson. Jack Silverberg would take a roughing penalty with eight seconds left in the third giving the Bandits a prime opportunity to finish the series in overtime.

The Oilers played gutsy hockey and killed the penalty, giving them belief and momentum in overtime. Sam Hall would take a shot on goal with Spak sitting out front. After the puck reached the net Spak would bang home the puck and force a game seven in this back-and-forth best-of-seven series keeping the season alive.

Spak celebrating his heroics in overtime in game six.

The Green and Gold won even when being down three of their mainstay players Rylan Brown, Logan Magowan, and Connor Gourley. Green made 38 stops in the contest.

Christian Green with one of his 38 saves on the night.

Sports fans know that anything can happen in game seven. The Oilers have a chance to move onto the BCHL Alberta Division finals against the Sherwood Park Crusaders on Tuesday night (April 30) when they play in a winner-moves-on and loser-goes-home matchup.

Puck drop will be at 7:00 in Brooks.

You can listen to the ever-important game seven on the Eagle 100.9 or stream it through Okotoks Online, starting with the pre-game show at 6:45.