Heartbreaker OT loss means the Pontiacs need road success to extend series

Fifty-nine seconds away, but Jamie Hikida had other ideas. 

That’s how close the Bonnyville Pontiacs were to tying up the series against the Drumheller Dragons on Saturday night. Instead, they sit down 2-0, in a hole heading to the badlands. 

After a 4-2 loss in Game 1, which saw the Dragons come back, and then pop in two goals in the span of 15 seconds in the 3rd period to secure a victory – the Pontiacs got out in front early in Game 2. 

Nicolas Beaudoin scored just 54 seconds into the game, but an ill-advised penalty sent Brent Hoshowski to the box, and Ayden Peters equalized on a tip past Kyle Hagen. 

The Dragons, receiving stellar goaltending from Sean Cootes, continued to push in the 2nd period and found the go-ahead goal from Holden Cardinal, who potted his second of the series. 

Bonnyville had to do something they’d done just once during the regular season, come back and win despite trailing after 40 minutes. 

They did what they needed to do. 

The penalty kill came up huge and out of the box came Tyler Blocha on a rush. His shot created a rebound, that was eventually deposited by Luka Sukovic for his first of the playoffs. 

Midway through the frame, Dante Siciliano slid it over to the rushing JR Ashmead, who made no mistake on a scorcher top corner. 

The Yaks had a 3-2 lead, they just needed to the clock to hit 0:00. 

It did, but tied. 

With Cootes pulled, the Dragons found the equalizer via Jamie Hikida on a one-timer from the right circle that eluded Hagen five-hole. 

Hikida didn’t stop there. 

The Pontiacs just didn’t seem to have their wheels turning in overtime. On one of their lone sustained pressure shifts in the offensive zone, a poor pinch was punished by the speedy Hikida. 

He received the stretch pass, burned around PO Allard, and lifted the puck over Hagen’s glove hand. 

The Dragons beat the Pontiacs in a heartbreaker to claim a decisive lead. 

Each game has been razor thin. 

The Pontiacs likely deserved a better fate in Game 1 with the number of scoring chances they created. 

What doesn’t bode well – or does depending on how you look at it – is the Pontiacs have scored the first goal in each game, something that during the regular season was a key catalyst for success. 

Schedule

Meanwhile, the Calgary Canucks had a pair of 4-3 wins to lead the Grande Prairie Storm 2-0 in their quarterfinal series. 

The Lloyd Bobcats found a way to win in double overtime to square up their series 1-1 against the Canmore Eagles. They were shelled 8-3 in Game 1 by the visitors. 

The Camrose Kodiaks pushed for a tie in Game 2 after 60 minutes, but lost in overtime, sending them down 2-0 to the first place Whitecourt Wolverines. 

Game 3 in Drumheller is Tuesday night, Game 4 is Wednesday. 

Game 5 if necessary is back at the RJ Lalonde Arena on Friday night at 7:00pm.