The Delta Ice Hawks season has come down to a win or go home scenario.
The Ice Hawks are down 3-1 in their best-of-seven Tom Shaw Conference final series with the rival Richmond Sockeyes following a 3-2 loss Sunday night at the Ladner Leisure Centre.
Delta jumped out to a 2-0 lead scoring a pair of goals just 16 seconds apart.
Ryden Mathieson with his third of the playoffs and Dawson Toledo, with his first of the playoffs gave the home side the two-goal lead after 20 minutes.
Special teams were the story in the second period, as Richmond scored three times – twice on shorthanded efforts.
Delta finished the night going 0/3 on the power play.
Despite trailing 3-1 in the series, Delta has held its own against the top team in the league.
Game one on March 4 was a 7-5 Richmond win that went back-and-forth all night.
The following evening back in Ladner, the Ice Hawks played one of their best games of the season and were full value for the 5-1 win.
Game three on March 7 was a 7-6 overtime win for Richmond.
“It’s a frustrating feeling for the team as a whole for sure,” said Ice Hawks head coach and general manager Steve Robinson. “Disappointing to be down 3-1 when we have had the lead in every game and haven’t found better results. We have to stay in the present and focus on the next game. Our strengths have been balanced scoring and discipline in staying out of the box. Our weaknesses have been giving up short-handed goals and not being able to protect leads.”
Game five in the series is Thursday night at Minoru Arena. If the Ice Hawks win it would force a game six back at the LLC on Sunday night, March 17 at 7:45 p.m.
