LAC LA BICHE - Two power-play goals in the last half of the final period gave Voyageur fans some hope, but it wasn't enough to come back from a three-goal deficit for the home team against the visiting Concordia Thunder. An empty net goal with a minute to go sealed the deal for Concordia.
The 4-2 loss has also sealed the fate of the Voyageurs for the season, removing any chance for the team to get out of the league's basement and nab the final playoff spot in the seven-team league. That final spot is currently occupied by the sixth-place Thunder.
Math falls against Voyageurs
Concordia were just four points ahead of the Voyageurs in the ACAC league standings going into Friday's game — the first of a home-and-home stand for the teams. Two wins for the Voyageurs on the weekend would have tied the teams with 15 points apiece. Two more wins in the Voyageurs last two games of the season against Briercrest over the February 24 weekend — and four straight losses in the Thunder's last four games of their regular season — would have put the Voyageurs two points ahead of the Concordia for that sixth place playoff spot. With Friday's loss, even a Saturday win for the Voyageurs ... and the same two wins and four loss scenario ... would leave Portage tied in league points with Concordia. To break that tie, even with four-straight losses to end the season, the Thunder would still have had one more win than Portage on their season stats.
Portage play their two final regular season games against the Briercrest Clippers over the February 24 weekend. Both of those games are on Bold Center home ice. The Thunder will be playing fourth-place Augustana next weekend and then first-place Red Deer Polytechnic over the Feb. 24 weekend.