Brooks, Alberta – The Brooks Bandits fell 4-3 to the Interior East Division-leading Blackfalds Bulldogs on Saturday night at the Eagle Builders Centre. Alexei Zhukov scored two goals, while Harijs Cjunskis and Harry Ahlberg also chipped in with multi-point games.
Nikita Ivaschenko got things going in the first period with a goal at 6:04. Alexei Zhukov scored one of his two at 18:53 to send the game to the first intermission tied 1-1.
Ivaschenko scored again in the second at 7:44 to regain the lead for the Bulldogs. Luke Dahlen registered a lamp-lighter at 10:48 to give the Bandits a two-goal lead before Alexei Zhukov scored again on a beautiful one-timer from the left faceoff dot.
The third period was quiet until Jack Good scored a tap-in goal off a beautiful feed from Jack Rosensteel, sending the game to overtime.
Noah Mertz broke the ice in OT with a goal five-hole on Zach Zahara at 3:34.
The Bandits will now head to Okotoks to take on the Oilers next Friday. Their next home game is February 14, when they host the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
