After winning their second overtime game in a row last Wednesday night in Aldergrove, the North Delta Devils dropped a pair of 4-2 decisions over the weekend.
The Devils began the stretch with a 4-3 win over the Aldergrove Kodiaks, then fell on home ice to the Abbotsford Pilots Saturday night at the Sungod Arena, and to the Mission Icebreakers in a road game Sunday.
The losses left North Delta tied for third place in the Tom Shaw Conference of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League, in a dead heat with the Grandview Steelers. Both teams are 21-14-4 (won-loss-tied).
The Devils seemed headed for a loss just past the midway mark of the game Wednesday, trailing 3-0. Michael Nardi netted the first North Delta goal late in the second period, then assisted on tallies by Adam Nathwani and Wesley Lee to tie the contest after 60 minutes.
Overtime lasted just 53 seconds, when Christopher Manhas scored on the powerplay for the Devils.
Saturday night in the Sungod Arena, the Pilots got two goals each from Riley Lamb and Kevin Lourens to get the win. Manuveer Mahil and Nathwani replied for the Devils, who were tied with Abbotsford 1-1 after the first period, but trailed 2-1 after 40 minutes.
North Delta ran into penalty trouble, allowing the Pilots to score twice on nine powerplay opportunities. Abbotsford killed off all five shorthanded situations.
The Devils survived what could have been a disastrous first period in Mission Sunday, but still lost.
Outshot 21-3 in the opening period, North Delta trailed just 1-0. Shots were even in the second frame at 7-7, but the Ice Breakers added two more goals and led 3-1 going into the third period. It was the visitors’ turn to carry the play in the final frame, but despite a 17-7 lead in shots on goal, the Devils managed only to trade goals.
Chris Bond and Taylan Kornelsen were the Devils goal scorers.
North Delta was in Ladner last night to play the first place Ice Hawks. They are at home Saturday, facing off against the Port Moody Black Panthers at 6:45 p.m. at the Sungod Arena.
