Just days after improving their record to .500, Stettler Lightning were hit by two consecutive losses on home ice, first to Red Deer Vipers 9-1 on Friday, Nov. 12 and then to Mountain View Colts 4-2 the next day.
In Friday’s rough and physical game, forced by the visiting Vipers, the teams appeared to be having a balanced struggle until the Vipers scored three goals in two minutes at the beginning of the second period, when the Lightning defense went into a complete disarray.
Red Deer continued the pressure throughout the rest of the game with attempts by Lightning to balance the score being quickly contained by the visiting side.
In Saturday’s game, although Lightning was a bit more coordinated, the opponent yet again prevailed in controlling the puck, leaving little room for the Lightning offense to create opportunities.
“We had no focus at all in the second period and we just stopped being physical,” said Lightning head coach Doug Smith referring to Friday’s game.
“When they scored three quick goals, that cut the wind out of our sails.”
Smith admitted that the the physical nature of the Vipers’ game had taken a toll on his team.
“We’ve got to check our zone better,” he said with regard to this weekend’s away games in High River and Banff.
“We need to go back to the strong work ethic,“ Smith said.