For one of the few times this season, it wasn't the first period that gave the 麻豆社国产Wolf Pack trouble. It was just everything after that.
The Pack started strong, building 2-1 and then 3-2 leads, but couldn't sustain the edge, losing 6-3 to the Abbotsford Pilots on Saturday (Jan. 29).
"We had a good start but got a little worn out towards the end of the second period," said 麻豆社国产head coach Matt Samson. "We also gave them a couple power plays and that's when they're the most dangerous and they buried their chances."
The Pilots got on the board early, slipping one past Wolf Pack starting goalie Johann Peterson at 4:59 of the first. But the Pack answered two minutes later when Jamie Creamore roofed his fifth goal of the season. 麻豆社国产then took a 2-1 lead at 15:08 when call-up defenceman Dylan Mooney shot the puck on goal and Jaret Babych picked up the rebound and found Jake Bergeron, who slid the puck into the empty net. The first period ended with the Pack up 2-1, despite being out shot 8-6 by the Pilots.
The momentum began to shift in the second period and the Pilots tied the game at 3:08 on the power play. 麻豆社国产responded with a power-play goal of its own when Valik Chichkin scored the first goal of his junior career. Vitalik Morozov and Creamore drew the assists on the goal.
However, it was all downhill from there for Squamish. The Pilots began to dominate the latter half of the second period and tied the game at 15:35. Peterson helped keep the Pack in the game, making 21 saves in the second and the teams entered the third tied at three.
Abbotsford scored at 2:20 of the third to go up 4-3 and it became clear that the more experienced Pilots intimidated the Pack. They amped up the physical play and Samson felt the need to protect his players, engaging in a shouting match with Abbotsford captain Daniel Amesbury.
"He likes to run his mouth and took some dangerous runs at some of our guys," Samson said. "As a coach, I don't like to talk to the players, but our guys seemed intimidated by him. We didn't have Ty Babych in the lineup and they fought last time, so I felt I had to speak up."
Amesbury, for his part, didn't seem to agree with Samson's take.
"Their coach hates me," he quipped from the Pilots bench during a stoppage in play. "He doesn't like the way I hit and doesn't seem to understand it's a contact sport."
Cooler heads prevailed after the official told both benches to quiet down, but it didn't do much to help the Pack. Abbotsford added two more goals, including another on the power play to reach the 6-3 final score.
The Pack followed Saturday's game with a 5-1 loss to the Grandview Steelers on Sunday (Jan. 30). Brady Bjornson scored the lone goal for Squamish.
The losses move the Wolf Pack's record to six wins, 30 losses and four overtime losses on the season. The next home game for the team will be on Saturday (Feb. 5) when the Wolf Pack host the North Delta Devils. Face-off is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. at Brennan Park Arena.
For more information on the team, visit www.squamishwolfpack.com.
