Photo courtesy Shaun Penner/EverythingGP

By Jeff Henson

GP STORM

Offensive struggles continue for Storm in loss to Pontiacs

Nov 2, 2019 | 10:07 AM

The Bonnyville Pontiacs broke open a 1-1 hockey game with three unanswered goals – including two just 40 seconds apart – en route to a 5-2 win over the Grande Prairie Storm on Friday night.

Even though they out-shot the Pontiacs 44-30 on the evening, the Storm once again struggled to find the back of the net, a problem that has been a common theme during the club’s current seven game winless streak.

“We create opportunities, especially early in games, we get opportunities to score, but we are just not finding ways to score.” said coach Matt Keillor. “It’s disappointing. It seems to be something that has entered our game and we have to find a way to get it out of our game.”

“It’s a mentality and a maturity that needs to happen, and it needs to happen quick.”

Bonnyville opened the scoring early in the first on a goal by Justin Stathopoulos, but a nice rush by Jarin Sutton just a minute and 22 seconds later pulled the Storm back to even terms.

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However a shot from the slot by Daine Dubois deflected off a Storm defender and blooped past goalie Kaeden Lane to once again give the Pontiacs the lead.

The turning point in the game would come late in the second, as Lucas Thorne and Curtis Hammond would score 40 seconds apart to stretch the Bonnyville lead to 4-1.

Sam Erkkila gave the Storm some life early in the third when he potted his third of the season.

But any momentum built off that goal was diminished nine and a half minutes later, after a costly turnover in Storm territory allowed Stathopoulos to find Marc-Antoine Benoit all alone to restore the Pontiacs three goal lead.

The Storm did have some grade-A scoring chances throughout the night, as Brody Dale hit the goal post on a first period powerplay, and Lukas Konashuk was robbed of a short handed goal in the second period, as Bonnyville goalie Easton Hesse dove across and got his stick on what looked to be an open net goal for the Storm associate captain.

Keillor admits the offensive struggles as of late may be starting to get to his young club.

“I know they are frustrated and trust me the coaching staff is just as frustrated. But all you can do is bury it and come back with a better effort (Saturday).”

The Storm and Pontiacs meet again Saturday night at 7:30 at Revolution Place.