The chances were there to be had in the early stages Wednesday night at the RJ Lalonde Arena in Bonnyville, but a misfire here and a tough bounce there, and the Lloydminster Bobcats wound up finding themselves on the wrong end of a 6-0 final.
Playing the rival Bonnyville Pontiacs for the fifth time this season, the Bobcats came out strong in the first period, but were unable to find the back of the net. Despite outshooting Bonnyville 11-8 in the frame and creating many tremendous scoring opportunities, it was Pontiac’s forward Ethan Leyer registering the only goal of the period, 4:50 into the frame.
Although down by a goal, Lloydminster continued to try and get back on even ground, but were unable to convert on a 5-on-3 power-play, while also hitting iron during the frame as well.
In the second period, penalty trouble started to become a problem for the Cats.
After a Grayson Constable goal made it 2-0 Bonnyville, back-to-back power-play goals extended the Yaks lead to 4-0 after two periods.
In the third, Marc-Antoine Beniot added to the Pontiacs tally with a goal 1:49 into the frame, before Garin Butler rounded out the scoring 6:42 into the period with Bonnyville’s third power-play goal of the game.
The Pontiacs went on to out-shoot the Bobcats 47-30 in the contest, meaning Bobcat’s goalie Cale Elder made 41 saves in the Lloydminster goal. Easton Hesse, meanwhile, stopped all 30 shots sent his way to record his third shut-out of the season.
The Bobcats finished the game 0 for 4 on the man-advantage, while the Pontiacs went 3 for 7.
Next up for Lloydminster is a Friday night tilt at home when they Bobcats play host to the Spruce Grove Saints. It will be the first of four meetings this month between the Cats and the Saints.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 from the Civic Centre.