The Parkland Rangers are doing what they can to stay in the playoff race, earning a split with the second-place Southwest Cougars, this past weekend.
Cam Sarna had two goals and an assist and Maddox Shindle also scored twice to lead Parkland to a 7-4 win, Friday in Dauphin.
On Saturday in Souris, the Cougars got two goals late in the last five minutes of the game to escape with a 3-1 win, despite a 44 save effort from Rangers netminder Chase Glover.
Rangers head coach Tyler Carefoot said it was a real good weekend for his squad. He said Friday’s game was the best overall team game that they have played all season.
“One of the things that we’ve been working on the last two weeks in practice is zone entries and just trying to get pucks to the net. And all of the work in practice paid off and we were able to put up seven against a team of Southwest’s caliber. So I was very pleased with Friday’s performance,” he said.
The Rangers were competitive in Saturday’s game despite having to kill off seven Southwest power plays through the first 40 minutes.
Although they did give up the opening goal on a power play four minutes into the game, Parkland was able to tie it less than three minutes later.
Spending so much time in the penalty box meant the Rangers were unable to get any momentum going.
“Gaining some serious opportunities because we felt like we were killing the whole (second) period,” Carefoot said. “One thing Southwest does so good is they put pucks on net and get second and third chances. They do a really good job of that and that’s how they got the second one.” Glover, Carefoot said, was outstanding on Saturday, adding it was probably his best performance as a Parkland Ranger.
“Obviously, he kept us in the game when we were going through all the penalty trouble and gave us a chance,” he said.
Things won’t get any easier for the Rangers as they host the league-leading Brandon Wheat Kings, tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Brandon enters the contest having won 31 of their 32 games with the only blemish being an overtime loss to Southwest, Nov. 10.
Parkland then makes the long trip north to face the Norman North Stars, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Carefoot feels this weekend could seal Parkland’s fate when it comes to the playoffs.
“Norman has been playing well. The way we’ve been putting everything together, all the stuff that we talk about on a game-by-game basis, if we bring that focus for the weekend, I think we’re going to be a tough out,” he said. “For us, the playoffs start in January, not February and we need to have that mentality. I think we’re up for the challenge. So I’m expecting us to be ready and make a big push.”
