After winning three of the first four games of the month, the North Delta Devils will go into the Pacific International Hockey League playoffs on a losing note.
The Devils were pounded 6-1 by the Delta Ice Hawks Saturday night at the Sungod Arena, the final game of the regular season before the playoffs began last Monday night.
The Ice Hawks led 2-0 and 3-0 before Djordje Leposavic netted the lone North Delta goal 100 seconds into the third period. Delta responded with three more goals to complete a game they dominated, outshooting the home team in all three periods and by a 44-26 margin overall.
After a solid start to the season, in which the Devils were 19-7-2 (won-loss-overtime loss) and challenging for first place in early December, North Delta went into a 2-8-3 tailspin that dropped them to fourth place in the Tom Shaw Conference – and a playoff series with the league-leading Richmond Sockeyes.
Richmond was a dominant 37-5-4 on the season, but of their nine losses, three have been to the Devils. North Delta won the season series 3-2-1, with all three victories in the first seven weeks of the season.
The Sockeyes led the 10-team league both offensively and defensively, averaging 4.85 goals per game while allowing just 2.30. North Delta was ranked fifth in both categories, with a 3.57 goals-for average and 3.59 goals against.
– Michael Nardi edged Marco Finucci for first place in the Devils scoring race.
Each player assisted on 23 goals, but Nardi outscored Finucci 23-22 to take first place by a 46-45 margin.
