The Revelstoke Grizzlies lost their winning streak last weekend across back-to-back games hosting the Princeton Posse, but they didn't go down without a fight.
Friday, Revelstoke vs. Princeton, Jan. 31
Things didn't start smoothly, with the game pushed back two-and-a-half hours due to snowstorms.
The first period turned out to be the dagger that sealed the Grizzlies' fate, with the Posse's Matthew Langdon making his 31st season goal midway through.
The shooting and scoring may have taken Revelstoke by storm in the first, followed by a quieter second for both teams. The third, however, saw a heightened intensity, with nine penalty calls handed to the Grizzlies and five for the Posse that spanned slashing, high-sticking, head-checking, cross-checking, roughing and misconduct such as disrespect and abuse. The first and second periods combined had just four calls.
Unable to come back after the first, the Grizzlies left in a 0-1 defeat that marked their fourth loss in regulation time.
Princeton goalie Blake Sittler logged a 25-goal shutout, while Revelstoke's Ryder Ponto faced an onslaught of 55 shots that included 24 in the first. It underlined a challenge for the Grizzlies that continued to impede their success into Saturday's game: not enough opportunities and shots on goal.
Saturday, Revelstoke vs. Princeton
With Saturday's game starting on schedule, Princeton kept Revelstoke on the defensive, taking 61 shots on net.
Two goals in the first three minutes by Princeton were echoed by Revelstoke's Jacob Smith five minutes later. The Posse dished out 27 shots on goal, tripling the Grizzlies' nine attempts.
Onlookers might have been surprised to see just seven penalties handed out all night, with after-the-whistle clashes breaking out in the first period. Things got particularly messy around the Grizzlies' net, as they struggled to make plays anywhere past neutral zone for the rest of the first. Referee interventions grew more intense and forceful to keep fights at bay and maintain order.
A couple minutes into the second, the Posse broke through the Grizzlies' defence to sneak the puck past Ponto and bring things to 3-1. The energy at the Revelstoke Forum seemed to momentarily evaporate.
Three minutes later, Jake Phillips-Watts responded by netting the puck centre-left in something of a breakaway, thanks to the aid of Liam McNeill.
Both sides found themselves slipping up on opportunities throughout mid-period, until Jake Neufeld reignited hope for Revelstoke with eight minutes left. A struggle at Princeton's net and hustle by the Grizzlies left the goalie stretched out with a perfect chance Neufeld jumped on to tie things 3-3.
Ponto kept things under control as the second fizzled out, repeatedly deflecting and catching pucks from a hustling Princeton offensive as the Grizzlies continued to trail in shots. McLeod nearly brought Revelstoke into the lead by firing one from the blue line in the last 90 seconds.
The third period saw Revelstoke turn the tables, with 17 shots on goal over Princeton's 12. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be enough to win the night.
At mid-period, the Posse scooped up two goals within 13 seconds. It did a number on the crowd's morale, especially after Ponto getting fans out of their seats with a breakaway save just a couple minutes earlier.
Sticks were lost, physical altercations took the upswing again, and the Grizzlies pulled every stop to deny Princeton a sixth goal. With five minutes left in the game, an offensive ripe with criss-cross passing broke the Posse's blockade and Neufeld slid the puck past goalie Gibson Horne's left.
As exciting as it was, the Grizzlies wouldn't find a way to tie it, even with their goalie swapped out in the final moments. The last minute of play certainly didn't go wasted by Revelstoke, but it left them 4-5 for the night in a back-to-back defeat.
Horne fended off 57 shots. Despite heavy fire the previous night, Ponto stayed in net and continued to hold his own with 29 saves.
Though Neufeld's two hope-instilling goals didn't save the Grizzlies in Saturday's loss, he's already matched his 31-goal rookie season from last year, in nine fewer games.
Revelstoke's next game is in Kelowna against the Chiefs this Wednesday, Feb. 5. They then face the Eagles in Sicamous Friday, Feb. 7, followed by a home game against the Chase Heat Saturday, Feb. 8. All games start at 7 p.m.