After a two week absence from home, the Calgary Canucks returned to the Max Bell Centre on Monday night to greet the Canmore Eagles. The visitors got up early and held on for a 2-1 win.
The Canucks came out hitting but took a penalty early and the Eagles, who had won four in a row, put one home as Bryan Arneson got the powerplay goal. A few minutes later, Calgary-native Joe Serpico pounced on a rebound for his first goal as an Eagle.
It was the visitors turn to take a penalty and the Canucks, who have averaged one powerplay goal in each game this year, got back into the game with Colton Sheen jamming in his 10th goal on the season. After one period, it was 2-1.
In the second, no penalties were called and no goals were scored but fans were treated to back and forth action and opportunities on both sides.
The third also proved to be tight as both teams didnâ??t want to give an inch. As time wore down, the game got tighter and with thirty seconds to go, the Canucks took a timeout before jamming into the zone. In the end, they couldnâ??t tie up the game for overtime.
The game ended 2-1, a victory for the Canmore Eagles.
This weekend, the Canucks travel North to play the Camrose Kodiaks, whom they trail by four points in the South Division standings, on Friday night. They drive even further to play the countryâ??s top team the Fort McMurray Oil Barons on Saturday.
The Canucks donâ??t get back until Saturday, November 16th when the Grande Prairie Storm visit the Max Bell. The Canucks play more home games than they have lately in the weeks ahead of Christmas.