Their longest losing streak of the season has been extended into the new year.
The North Delta Devils lost a pair of games in regulation time last weekend, falling 4-2 to the Ridge Meadows Flames last Friday in Maple Ridge, then dropping a 5-2 decision to the Delta Ice Hawks on home ice Saturday night at the Sungod Arena.
Now with just a pair of overtime losses to show for their past seven outings, the Devils have fallen from what was a three-way race for first place in the T om Shaw Conference of the Pacific International Hockey League, into fourth position in the five-team group.
North Delta has now slipped to 19-12-4 (won-loss-overtime loss), and is a point back of the Grandview Steelers with 13 games to play.
The Devils outshot Ridge Meadows 34-27 Friday night, but couldn’t find the net until the third period. The Flames led 2-0 and 4-0 at the period breaks before Michael Nardi and Julius Ho tallied in the third period.
Alex Ahnert was in the North Delta goal, making 23 saves.
The Devils didn’t take advantage of a wide disparity in powerplay opportuntiies, scoring once on six chances but allowing the Flames to score the only time North Delta was shorthanded.
Against the Ice Hawks the next night in the Sungod Arena, North Delta had a slight edge on their rivals from Ladner through the first 20 minutes, taking a 1-0 lead on a pair of goals from Coltyn Hansen.
Wesley Lee assisted on both tallies, the second of which came on the powerplay.
The Hawks, which outshot the Devils 35-13 over the final two periods, tied the game in the second period then blew it open with three goals in the final 10 minutes of play.
Ahnert was again in the North Delta goal, stopping 44 of 49 shots.
North Delta will host the Steelers tomorrow (Saturday) at 6:45 p.m. at the Sungod Arena.
