The 麻豆社国产Wolf Pack is officially eliminated from playoff contention, but that doesn't mean the players have lost their bite.
Goaltender Scott Ismond led the Pack to its first shutout of the season with a 4-0 win over the Port Moody Black Panthers at Brennan Park Arena on Wednesday (Feb. 3). The victory was bitter sweet because Port Moody, which is tied with Mission for fourth place in the Harold Brittain Conference, remains in playoff contention despite having tallied 11 points less than the Tom Shaw Conference's Wolf Pack.
Ismond saved all 34 shots he faced and was named first star.
"Scott has been pretty consistent for us all year and it was really nice to get him a shutout," said head coach and general manager Matt Samson. "He certainly deserved that."
麻豆社国产spread out the scoring with Brady Bjornson, Marcus Chabot, Marco Finucci and Clayton Wilson potting goals.
The following day, the Delta Ice Hawks clinched the Tom Shaw Conference's final playoff spot by beating the Richmond Sockeyes 5-3. Officially out of the post-season, the Wolf Pack didn't shut down when it was their turn to face the league-leading Sockeyes at Brennan Park Arena on Saturday (Feb. 6).
Tadz Brown tied the game 4-4 midway through the third period, eventually sending the game into overtime. But in extra time, Brown was hauled down while breaking the puck out of the defensive zone and Richmond scored the winner. Ismond received a game misconduct for verbally reacting to the referee's decision to not call a penalty, as did the bench.
The Wolf Pack leads the league with six overtime losses.
"They're frustrated, as I am, when you look back on some of the games we could have won," said Samson.
Brown finished the game with two goals and one assist, while Hunter Nelson scored a shorthanded goal and added two helpers. 麻豆社国产lost three players to injury in the first period. Defencemen Ryan Niederkorn and Aaron Oberson left the game with back injuries and Colton Lewis was forced out with a hip flexor injury. All three players are day-to-day.
Despite having to rotate only four defencemen, the team worked hard not to falter, said Samson.
"We worked really, really hard, and that's the thing that has been nice to see for me as a coach," he said. "It's about the attitude and it's nice to see them not giving up."
The Wolf Pack has four games remaining, including its last home game at Brennan Park Arena on Saturday (Feb. 13) versus the Delta Ice Hawks.
