Stettler Lightning lost three consecutive games over the past week with the hopes of a “turning point” in the season slightly fading away.
The Lightning lost to Rimbey 6-4 and to Blackfalds 7-1 in two home games, on Tuesday, Dec. 8 and Friday Dec. 11, respectively, before giving in to Coaldale 7-7 on Saturday, Dec. 12
“Our penalty kill was excellent, one of our best efforts in penalty kill scoring one goal on the power play,” coach Doug Smith said in reference to the Lightning’s only goal in the Blackfalds game.
“It is really a growing point”
But he admitted that the team had still room to improve.
“We were trying to play in a particular system against them, maybe we were more thinking than skating and that sometimes gets you in trouble.”
“It was another learning curve.”
As for the Coaldale game last saturday, Dec. 12 Smith said he had “a very short line of players” due to job commitments and exams of the studying team members.
There were only 11 players in total playing against the Coaldale.
“We had two forwards play defense that night,” Smith said.
And after a few mistakes due to the compulsory mismatch of the positions, coach Smith said his players felt that enough was enough and they were fired up to produce a good game in the later periods against Coaldale.
The Lightning scored all of its five goals in the second half of the game.
“For only 11 players, I think we played a hell of a hockey game,” said Smith.
Regarding the Lightning’s playoff chances, coach Smith said there were still many teams behind them in the standings and that they would seek to solidify their record in the post-Christmas period to be able to make it the playoffs.
“I think there is really a good chance of having a solid record in the 14 games remaining after the Christmas season,” Smith said.
He added that the home game with Ponoka, which was initially rescheduled to Tuesday Dec. 15 had been postponed to Feb. 9.