The skin of their teeth.
That’s what is separating the Canmore Eagles from AJHL playoff elimination with two fateful games this week.
The Eagles kept their playoff dreams alive with a 4-3 shootout win over the Drumheller Dragons on Tuesday (Feb. 14). Luke Philp had a goal and two assists in the win and Riley Point scored the shootout winner.
As of the Outlook’s deadline, the Eagles were three points out of the final playoff spot with two games remaining. They need Drumheller to lose their final game and the Eagles need to beat the Olds Grizzlys tonight (Feb. 16) and the Calgary Canucks tomorrow night (Feb. 17) in order to make the playoffs. Both games are at Alex Kaleta arena in Canmore. The Canucks are four points up on the Eagles as well and could be caught.
“Every game is a must-win from this point,” said top line centre Luke Philp. “We have to come out with the same attitude every night and expect to win, not expect to lose. It’s desperate hockey.”
“We know we’re one game at a time. We’re confident if we control what we can control, we’ll be successful,” said head coach Andrew Milne.
Against Drumheller, Steven Phee opened scoring at the 6:30 mark of the first period to give the Eagles an early lead. Luke Philp then put the Eagles ahead by two goals just seven seconds into the second period with an unassisted effort.
Drumheller climbed back in the game at the 12-minute mark when Justin Cintas scored an unassisted marker. They tied it up with three minutes left in the period on a goal by Doug Jones.
Jones then gave the Dragons the lead at the seven-minute mark of the third period, however, Phee notched his second of the game two minutes later to knot the match at 3-3. Luke Philp and Trey Phillips drew assists.
Overtime solved nothing, but Phillips and Point didn’t miss on their shootout attempts, while goalie Cam Barnes stopped two shooters to secure the win. Barnes was busy on the evening, turning away 36 shots on the night.
The Eagles are playing .500 hockey right now after a 6-5 win over Grande Prairie last Friday night and a 5-1 loss to the Brooks Bandits last Saturday night.
Against Grande Prairie, the Eagles exploded for five goals in the second period and held on for the win. Luke Philp led the attack, scoring the winner.
Winning three in a row is something the team hasn’t done all year; however, they’ll have to in order to grab the last playoff spot. Even then, they’d face Brooks in the first round, a team that’s won 10 in a row.
In other Eagles news, Point was nominated for the AJHL’s most dedicated player award. Point has been Mr. Everything for the Eagles, playing on the powerplay, penalty kill and often skating on the top unit.
“I’m pretty honoured to get that. It’s a pretty special thing. That’s a part of my game, so it’s nice to be nominated,” Point said.
