The Jr. A Pontiacs came out flat in game two of the team's first round best-of-five playoff series with Drayton Valley, losing 2-0 to the Thunder on Wednesday in Bonnyville.
The Jr. A Pontiacs came out flat in game two of the team's first round best-of-five playoff series with Drayton Valley, losing 2-0 to the Thunder on Wednesday in Bonnyville. The series is now tied at a game a piece, heading into game three on Friday in Drayton Valley.
Pontiacs head coach and general manager Chad Mercier said his team's energy just was not where it needs to be."They (Drayton Valley) looked like the fresher team out there tonight. We just weren't as emotionally engaged as we were in game one or as we'll need to be going forward."
When the Pontiacs did manage to get going offensively, Thunder goalie Marc Olivier Daigle was there to shut it down.
Daigle, one of the top goalies in the AJHL, stopped all 29 shots he faced in game two for the shutout. A night earlier, Daigle put on another sensational show, stopping 55 of 58 shots, in the Pontiacs game one double overtime win.
Mercier said his team will have to be better prepared for game three when the teams travel to Drayton Valley.
"We're going to need a gutsy effort going into a tough building to play in," said Mercier.
Friday's game is scheduled for 730 p.m., while game four is set for Saturday at 8 p.m. also in Drayton Valley. If necessary, game five would be played in Bonnyville at 7 p.m. on Monday.
For a full recap of games one through four check out the next issue of the Bonnyville Nouvelle on Tuesday.
