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Grande Prairie Storm bench. Photo Credit: Shane Clausing
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Storm winless streak stretches to 14 following loss to Pontiacs

Feb 24, 2020 | 12:28 PM

The Grande Prairie Storm’s winless streak stretched to 14 games following a 2-1 loss to the Bonnyville Pontiacs Sunday afternoon in Bonnyville.

Bonnyville’s Austin Saint opened the scoring with four minutes remaining in the first frame to give the Pontiacs a 1-0 lead.

Nathaniel Bierd would respond two minutes later for the Storm, as he would add his seventh of the season to tie the game at 1-1.

Following the Bierd goal, things got physical. The last 90 seconds of the period saw Max Giangualano and A.J. Macaulay both pick up game misconducts after Giangualano hit a Pontiacs player from behind. There was a combined 61 minutes in penalties on the play.

After a scoreless second period, Bonnyville’s Bruce MacGregor would score early in the third period to give the Pontiacs a 2-1 lead and eventually the victory.

The Storm are now down to their final home game of the season, which will go on Tuesday night at Revolution Place when they host the Whitecourt Wolverines.

The team currently sits in seventh place in the AJHL’s North Division with 43 points (18-32-7), putting them just one point back of the Oil Barons for sixth.

With the MOB finished with their regular season schedule, the playoff scenarios are now down to two for the Storm: A win on Tuesday would give them sixth place, where they would face Whitecourt in round one. A loss would keep the Storm in seventh, where they would face the Spruce Grove Saints in the first round.

On paper, the matchup with the Wolverines may be more favourable, as the Storm currently lead the season series 3-2. Though the Storm have beaten the Saints twice this season, which came in back-to-back overtime wins on November 29 and 30 at Revolution Place.

Puck drop for Tuesday’s game is at 7:30 p.m.