Their backs are against the wall.
The Bonnyville Sr. Pontiacs are one game away from elimination in their best-of-five series against the Lacombe Generals.
Despite a great road effort in Game 1 on the road Saturday night where the team lost two skaters in the 2nd period, the team made it a close game. Down 4-1 in the 3rd period, the Pontiacs got the second goal of the game from Lucas Isley to draw within two.
Blair Mulder scored the insurance tally with six-and-a-half minutes remaining in regulation, despite a marker with just seconds left by Tanner Corbeil that made the final 5-3.
Game 2 was Bonnyville’s one guaranteed home game of the playoffs, and the team got off to a great start scoring a little over a minute into the game for an early lead. Austin Power was able to touch the puck last before it went off of a Lacombe defenceman and into the net.
After finishing the period trailing 2-1, where netminder Garrett Iverson faced 25 shots, the Sr. Pontiacs again tied the game with Isley’s third goal of the post-season. However, Craig Gans re-established the Generals’ lead midway through the period, making it still a one-goal game in the second intermission.
The wheels fell off in the 3rd period though, as Lacombe amped up the pressure and scored two quick goals in the opening 4 minutes of the frame, which solidified the victory for the Generals, 7-2 the final.
Iverson faced 115 shots in the two games combined and stood on his head time and time again to keep the Yaks alive in those games.
Bonnyville will have to dig deep and win the next three games in order to extend their season.
They will hope to do that on Saturday in Game 3. If the Pontiacs can win, they will force a Game 4 back at the RJ Lalonde Arena on Sunday afternoon at 4:30pm.
Chuck-a-Puck Fundraiser
During Game 2, members of the Bonnyville Pontiacs U15 team were fundraising for an intermission game of Chuck-a-Puck. The hockey team was able to raise $775 which they will be donated to help fight children’s cancers. Mr. Mikes, Player’s Lounge, Nick’s, Tim Hortons, Starbucks, and Booster Juice donated gift cards for the cause as well.