Capitals' slide continues

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Tuesday, January 26th 2010Capitals' slide continues
JASON SIMMONDS
The Journal Pioneer

SUMMERSIDE - The Summerside Western Capitals' losing streak has reached five
games in the Maritime Junior 'A' Hockey League.
The Halifax Lions posted a 3-2 victory on Sunday afternoon before an
announced crowd of 784 fans at Credit Union Place.
"We're a struggling hockey team," said Capitals head coach Gordie Dwyer
following the game. "There's ups and downs, we have a young hockey team and
we're trying to learn through the season and things aren't coming easy."
The loss dropped the Capitals' record to 18-16-1-1 (won-lost-overtime
losses-shootout losses) while Halifax improved to 17-16-4-0. The Caps are 10
points behind second-place Miramichi (24-13-0-0) in the Roger Meek Division,
and hold a 12-point lead over the fourth-place Dieppe Commandos (11-21-2-2).
Two first-period goals 31 seconds apart 1:06 into a four-minute power play
proved to be the difference for the Lions. Kyle Dilosa opened the scoring at
11:35 and Steve Popovich made it 2-0 at 12:06. Brendan Taylor assisted on
both goals, with single helpers credited to Dilosa and Travis Perry.
The score remained 2-0 until Taylor's unassisted goal at 8:52 of the third
period gave Halifax a 3-0 lead. The Capitals drew close on late goals by
Daniel Whelan at 13:03 and Chad Earle at 16:09, but it was too little too
late.
"No, I wasn't overly pleased with our effort," assessed Dwyer. "I thought we
showed some character to come back, but we put ourselves in a hole early on
and seemed to struggle after that for a while.
"We came back strong in the third period, but we just didn't have enough."
The Capitals only generated 13 shots in the first two periods - seven in the
first and six in the second. Was that the result of Halifax's play or more
what the Caps were not doing?
"Halifax played a good game," answered Dwyer. "They came in, played a smart
hockey game and took advantage of the power-play opportunities they had
early in the first period and took the momentum out of the hockey game.
"We beat them down there (earlier this season), they came ready to play and
their play showed it and they played a real good game."
Overall, the Capitals held a slim 22-21 shots-on-goal advantage, thanks to a
9-4 margin in the third period. Kody Blois earned the goaltending win, and
Alexander Micalef took the loss.
Cole MacMillan (2), Whelan and Darcy Ashley had assists for the Caps.
Referee Thane Arsenault called six minor penalties against each team.
The Lions were 2-for-6 on the power play while the Caps went 0-for-6.

jpsports@journalpioneer.com