Going into the game, the Pontiacs sat securely in second position in the Northern Premier Hockey League’s Pioneer division, while Arnprior sat in fifth.

Pontiacs head coach Darcy Findlay said his team got out to a slow start – a trend he said has been his team’s Achilles heel so far this season.

“We gave up 27 shots after two periods, so we weren’t trending in the right direction [ . . . ] When you’re chasing the game or whenever you give the other team any life at all, it’s that much more difficult,” he said.

The Pontiacs rallied back from a 3-1 deficit, scoring two consecutive goals at the start of the second period to level the score, including a shorthanded goal from William Bujold.

But Arnprior’s offense proved too strong as the home team notched three more goals to the visitors’ two.

Findlay said he warned his team before the game about the Arnprior team, who may be near the bottom of the standings but who can field a strong roster when all their players dress for the game.

“They have players that live all over, and they just never get them all together at once. And they were all together at once,” he said.

The loss was the Pontiacs’ third in four games after winning nine consecutive games at the start of the season. But Findlay was unfazed by these recent results, adding that his team could have beaten Arnprior if it wasn’t for some sloppy play.

As for his team’s Dec. 13 loss to South Stormont, Findlay said the result could have been much different if they had a full roster dressed for the game.

“We had seven guys on the bench. It’s typical senior hockey – you go short, you end up with more injuries as the game goes on. So realistically we have two losses we shouldn’t have.”

The Pontiacs will travel to Barry’s Bay, Ont. to play the Madawaska Valley Wolves, a team Shawville defeated on home ice 8-5 at the start of the month. After that, they will face the league-leading Manotick Mariners on Jan. 23 at the Shawville arena.

Findlay said he expects those games to be tough. He said while his team’s strong suit is offense, he is telling his team to be more conservative with the scoring chances they take on the offensive end.

“We’re such an offensive team, we caught in the moment of, ‘Well, let’s get another [goal].’ We’re too high risk for my liking,” he said.

Going into the final six weeks of the regular season, Findlay said his message to his team is simple: “Let’s crank it up and dial it in. Let’s be okay making the right play. We don’t always have to take a chance. We know we’re going to score, so how about we just make the simple play.”

Findlay will head to Tweed, Ont. on Jan. 17 to coach the Pioneer division at the NPHL All-Star Game, while three Pontiacs players (Julien Arruda, Jean-Robin Mantha and Joey Brennan) will play in the game.

The league’s playoffs will begin in February.

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