Three straight losses have the Fort McMurray Oil Barons searching for answers.
The MOB fell in both contests over the weekend against the Whitecourt Wolverines, losing Friday night 4-2, before falling 8-3 on Saturday.
Both games saw the Barons blow leads heading into the third period.
Head Coach Bob Beatty tells Mix News the team has to get better at capitalizing on its opportunities.
“We need to play more effectively and if we have a lead, we need to learn to manage it better. We have to score more than they do to get wins and it’s as simple as that.”
The losses drop Fort McMurray to 7-12-1 on the campaign, placing them 5th in the AJHL North Division.
Saturday’s contest was particularly catastrophic, as the MOB surrendered six unanswered goals on route to the loss.
Beatty says it was one of the worst efforts from the team this season.
“It wasn’t good. We had a terrible third period – one we’d like to forget about. Especially Saturday night, the wheels came off obviously.”
Saturday’s loss was also marred by a devastating open-ice hit on Whitecourt forward Ethan Leyer by MOB defenseman Max Struss.
For the hit, the AJHL has reportedly handed Strauss a three-game suspension.
“They took the match penalty away and gave him a major. The biggest concern is the welfare of the player, “Beatty said. “He seems to be okay. Max has touched base with him – he knows him from home, and it looks like he’ll be fine. Looking at the replay, it was definitely contact to the head but there was nothing malicious about it.”
The Barons look to bounce back as they kick off a three-game weekend with the Grande Prairie Storm on Friday.