“Unacceptable” mistakes reason Pontiacs blown out in back to back

Image: Emma Jonker Photography. Jordan Schanbacher, left, Dylan Hebert, right.

The word “redundant” is a good choice from assistant coach Chad Carder.

The same words are being used time and again in pregame interviews with head coach Ayrton Nikkel, postgame interviews, and even myself (Michael Menzies) on the broadcast.

When you see the same mistakes happen over and over again, when you see momentum completely flip against you after you score, at some point you wonder about this edition of the Bonnyville Pontiacs — what does a path of victory even look like?

On Friday night, they lose 7-2 to the Bobcats despite taking a 2-1 lead almost eight minutes into the 2nd period. Six unanswered goals against.

On Saturday night, they 7-4, after going down 2-0 just 3:16 into the game, tie it up 55 seconds into the 2nd period, then surrender three goals in 2:52.

The plays the Pontiacs make to get back into games, or take the lead, are the moments in the game the momentum flips to the opposition. It’s been a flaw in the team since the get-go.

Response shift

The Yaks have surrendered a total of 13 goals in the ensuing shift after they score. There’s at least another 10 goals against in the two minute window after the opposition scores, and at least another 10 in total after the opposition scores.

It’s the good that brings the bad, that leads to mistakes.

For a young hockey team, a fragile one right now, how can you ever feel comfortable in the game if you’re always worried the ice could fall out from underneath at any moment?

“It’s starting to become infuriating from a coaching standpoint, seeing the same mistakes that we talk about before yesterday’s game, that we talked about after last night’s game, and hammered down on this morning for a good hour,” said Carder after the home loss.

“To see those guys keep making the exact same mistakes that’s been haunting here for the last three weeks, is unacceptable. It’s us not taking in that information and not applying it to our game.” 

While there are several factors that have led to this 12-21-4 record, they can all go back to the tried-and-true word of inconsistency.

Game to game, shift to shift, what will happen on the ice is anyone’s guess.

It’s been highlighted in a dreadful January (1-6-1), surrendering 48 goals against, six goals a game on average.

While at times engaged, in others the team looks lost in their own end, with gaping holes in the slot, missed assignments leading to wide open attempts, or the old bakery of turnovers.

And you can’t just blame the goaltender. Cody Butikis has faced a barrage of shots, as the Yaks have faced an average of 43 shots a game this month, to the 25.7 shots they’re firing back.

Silver linings

The arrival of Luke Minard has helped furnish a consistent line of offence with Porter Byrd-Leitner (coming off of a Rookie of the Week nod last week) and Myles Gauld.

Minard tucked home an elusive shot fooling Kaiden Kirkwood on Friday with a powerplay goal for his first as a Pontiac. He provided his first assist the period before, setting up Byrd-Leitner on his roof job shot from the slot.

“It felt good to get those two for sure, just for confidence reasons and my overall play. I feel like I’m connecting with my line. I feel like we’ve been all over it the last two games,” Minard said in the pregame on Saturday.

Before arriving, this season had been a struggle for Minard with the Philadelphia Rebels of the NAHL. After a promising season as a 17-year-old, Minard wanted a fresh lease on his hockey life.

“I felt like I needed a change of scenery and I was hoping Bonnyville could do the trick for me. It’s going great.”

Minard isn’t the only newcomer who potted his first with the club this weekend. Deegan Kinniburgh got the monkey off of his back with a late goal on the powerplay in his ninth appearance on Saturday.

Brady Estabrook as well has two assists in his last three games, and also acquainted himself in the Pontiacs-Bobcats rivalry with 14 PIMs.

In fact, the powerplay, a source of consternation for this group, has been firing in the last five games, despite the overall results.

The Yaks are 8/26 on the PP, scoring at least once on the man advantage in all five. Saturday was their most successful game with the powerplay all year scoring four times.

Brent Hoshowski is also playing his best hockey of his junior career. He has cracked double-digit points for the season, a career high, and has two goals and three assists in his last four games.

Weekend ahead

Bonnyville will have plenty of opportunity to sort out their road woes, with a three game road trip this weekend, hitting Grande Prairie twice, and wrapping up with a Sunday matinee against Whitecourt.

With just three wins away from the RJ this season, the lowest of any team in the AJHL, the Pontiacs will look to snap their seven game road losing skid.

If there’s ever a time to look in the mirror and dig deep — it’ll be this weekend.

—

You can listen to ENT Oilfield Pontiacs hockey with Michael Menzies on lakelandconnect.net/pontiacs.