The Abbotsford Pilots’ early season struggles continued last weekend as they dropped a pair of games, managing only a single goal in the process.
After falling to the Pacific Junior Hockey League-leading Richmond Sockeyes 3-0 Friday at the MSA Arena, the Pilots were blown out 7-1 by the previously winless Port Moody Panthers.
Abbotsford had entered the weekend with a three-game winning streak.
The Pilots were outshot 39-25 by Richmond, but didn’t fall behind until the Sockeyes scored five minutes into the second period on the power play. The visitors would extend their lead two minutes later, and seal the game in the third period with another power play marker.
The next night, in Port Moody, saw the game approach the halfway mark before the flood gates opened and the Panthers began finding the net.
After Derian White opened the scoring at the eight minute mark of the second period, the Panthers would tally two more power play goals in quick succession before going up by four on Adam Rota’s second of three goals on the night.
The Panthers added three more tallies in the third, broken up only by a Mitchell Plevy power play goal.
The lopsided victory was the first of the year for the Panthers, who had managed only a single overtime loss through their previous 10 games.
The Pilots, meanwhile, sit third in the Harold Brittain Conference, with a record of 4-5-0-1. They trail the conference-leading Langley Knights by just three points despite having scored the fewest goals of any team.