GALLERY: Ford fends off barrage of shots from Gens

A smoking-hot performance by Kings goalie Derrick Ford led the way to Strathmore's 3-2 win over the Gens last night. A little luck never hurts, either. Above, a puck bounces off his back with Gen Caden Stephenson on the prowl.

Goalie Derrick Ford came up big last night for the Wheatland Kings 3-2 win over the Cochrane Generals.

Ford turned away 50 of the 52 shots fired by the Gens in the physical matchup that saw the Kings rack up three times as many penalty minutes.

Strathmore scored two powerplay goals in the first, then added a third goal at 7:35 in the second. Ethan Matiece got the Gens on the scoreboard less than two minutes later, assisted by Caden Stevenson and Alexander Devnich.

Brendon Thubron, left, and Evan Plewes pressure Charlie Goll deep in the Kings end. 

Diago Coelho kept the Gens hopes alive with a powerplay goal midway through the third but the team was unsuccessful in securing a tying goal despite heavy pressure on Ford.

Even with the loss, the fifth in six games, the Gens remain fourth in the HJHL south division with a five-point buffer on the Coaldale Copperheads.

The Gens have an even 13-13 record with 12 games remaining in the regular schedule. The much-improved Kings are second in the south, one point ahead of the third-place Medicine Hat Cubs with two games in hand.

Cochrane is in Ponoka on Friday to take on the Stampeders in their final game before the Christmas break.

Lukas Martens, who got his second start with the Gens, faced 32 shots, and was named the Gens third star.

A tuffle broke out with just 20.4 seconds remaining in the second that gave the Gens a two-man advantage heading into the third.