The HDC Bandits - 17M put on a clinic against the Young Kings Colorado, cruising to a decisive 7-2 victory. The game started with the Bandits setting the tone early, as Grayson Geers opened the scoring midway through the first period. Just minutes later, Grayson May doubled the lead, putting the Young Kings on their heels. Despite a brief surge from the home team in the second period, with Max Sedlacek and Kodiak Rhodes finding the back of the net to make it a one-goal game, the Bandits responded immediately. Grayson May netted his second of the night, the eventual game-winner, to restore the two-goal cushion and shift the momentum permanently in the visitors' favor.
The third period was all HDC Bandits, as they unleashed a relentless offensive onslaught. Hunter Murphy started the scoring spree, followed by a quick pair of goals from Wyatt MacLeod, one assisted by Grayson Geers. Murphy would add his second goal of the period in the final seconds to cap off the dominant performance. The Bandits' offensive pressure was reflected in the shot count, outshooting the Young Kings 27 to 11 over the course of the game. Penalties were a factor for both sides, with the Young Kings taking four infractions and the Bandits taking three, but neither power play could capitalize on the opportunities.
In the crease, the story was one of stark contrast. Ethan Ross was a brick wall for the Bandits, turning aside all 11 shots he faced for a perfect shutout performance in net. On the other end, Easton Scott faced a barrage of 27 shots from the Bandits' potent attack. While the Young Kings showed brief flashes of life in the second period, the consistent pressure from HDC proved too much to handle, resulting in a convincing road win for the visitors.
