For much of the first half of the AJHL season, it was the Eagles complaining about missed calls, bad bounces and disallowed goals that led to losses.
Now that the Eagles are the hottest team in the AJHL, winning 11 of their last 13 games, the calls, bounces and goals are going their way.
They needed all of those bounces to squeak out a 3-2 overtime win over the Calgary Mustangs on Tuesday (Jan. 29) at Alex Kaleta arena.
Bryan Arneson was the overtime hero, scoring his second of the night in a game where the Eagles were the second best team on the ice, while Ty Swabb was the star of the game, stopping 50 shots.
The Mustangs had two disallowed goals, including one in the last minute of play. The Mustangs were celebrating what appeared to be a game winner when a linesman called a late penalty that had left Jeremy Margeson prostrate on the ice. Instead of the win, the Mustangs’ Blair Wentworth was assessed a game misconduct and five minute major for tripping. In overtime, the Eagles took their time to set up Arneson for the winner.
The effort was less than stellar in the eyes of head coach Andrew Milne.
“I’m not happy with our guys, for sure. We didn’t play a good game by any means. We relied too much on Swabb. In a game like that, we didn’t have the jump we wanted to have, but at the end of the day we’re hot right now and good teams find ways to win,” Milne said.
While Arneson had three points on the night, Milne wants to see more scoring throughout the lineup if they’re going to continue this hot streak.
“We need other guys to contribute. It was good to see Simpson score, that will help his confidence, but guys like Margeson, we need some secondary scoring,” Milne said.
Arneson opened scoring on the powerplay at the 3:43 mark of the first, with Zack Rassell and Riley Point picking up assists. The Mustangs stormed right back, tying the game at one apiece less than two minutes later.
The Mustangs took the lead early in the second period, but Luke Simpson erased the deficit with his patented drive to the net. Connor Wilson and Arneson picked up assists.
In overtime, the Eagles’ Trey Phillips lugged the puck up ice, while Arneson parked himself in front of the net. After a scramble, Arneson slid the puck home, his 11th of the season, for the win. Rassell and Simpson picked up assists, the Mustangs bench went nuts and the Eagles escaped with the win.
Swabb ultimately was the reason for the Eagles win. He faced a barrage of good chances and was superb when called upon in tight. The Mustangs jumped on his rebounds, but the lanky goalie was unrelenting in his play.
“He was stellar in nets. We have to give this win to him. In order to be a good hockey club, you need your goalie to steal a win and he stole one for us tonight,” Milne said.
Swabb was happy with his performance, but said he still wants to improve.
“I thought I played pretty well. My rebound control wasn’t what I wanted. That’s why they had 50 shots. They scored good goals,” Swabb said. “I’m getting better every game. The ankle feels really good.”
He also wants to see the play in front of him improve.
“We need to be better. We lower our level of play because we were playing the Mustangs. Against Camrose we all gave 110 per cent. Our effort needs to be better and sharper in games and in practise,” Swabb said.
The Eagles next home game is Tuesday (Feb. 5) against Drumheller.
