The Port Alberni Bombers, hanging on a slim thread regarding a playoff spot, fell 7-2 to Saanich Predators in Sunday night Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League action at the Alberni Valley Multiplex.
Taking a short-lived 1-0 lead early in the first frame, and ending the period tied at 2-2 with their south-island visitors, the Bombers surrendered five unanswered goals over the next two stanzas in absorbing the loss.
Grady Dragani and Ethan Unger were the Bomber goal-scorers. McCall Nault, Jaxon Hinchey, Ryan Christenson and John Shields added assists.
The Predators got goals from five different players. Only Brandon Smith, who had two tallies, beat Bomber goaltenders more than once. Von Parsons, Koen Gauthier, Travis Swanson, former-Bomber Kaydin Halladay and Konrad Lorincz scored the others.
The Bombers outshot Saanich 37-34 with Predator goaltender George Jantz making a number of key saves in back-stopping his team to the win.
The loss, combined with Campbell River’s 9-0 win over Lake Cowichan Kraken on Sunday, means the Bombers are now eleven points behind the Storm with eight games remaining in the battle for the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division of the VIJHL.
The Bombers return to action on Wednesday night when they travel to The Q Centre for a matchup with Westshore Wolves. They return to the Alberni Valley Multiplex on Saturday for a 7:00 pm contest against the aforementioned Campbell River Storm.
Bombers Lose to Predators
