The offensively challenged St. Albert Steel failed to score a goal for the second time in four games in Wednesday’s loss to the Spruce Grove Saints.
Joel Miller posted the shutout with 22 saves in the 5-0 win by the defending Alberta Junior Hockey League champions at Grant Fuhr Arena.
“He played pretty well when he needed to but we definitely could’ve buried a couple if we beared down on our chances,” said Steel right-winger Dallas Smith. “We had a couple of opportunities in front of the net. I even had a couple myself that I couldn’t bury and a couple of rebounds I couldn’t get to bury either.”
The AJHL’s lowest-scoring team has averaged 2.29 goals per game while going 7-36-2 this season.
“We get chances to score, we just have to put the puck in the net,” Smith said.
The last-place Steel are also averaging a league-high 4.73 goals-against per game. They gave up two goals on eight shots in the first period against the Saints (35-2-7), ranked third in the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Steel goalie Rhys Hadfield (3-20, 4.95 GAA) faced 30 shots overall.
“Hadfield played really well for us. He had a good game,” Smith said. “It was just a lucky bounce on their first goal. After that we kind of lost our confidence a bit. Their second goal was just kind of a mistake by the defence in turning the puck over behind the net.”
The Steel also surrendered a shorthanded marker in the second period and were outshot 10-3 in the third as the Saints lit the lamp at even strength and on the power play.
Smith stressed the margin of defeat was misleading.
“We played pretty well as a squad. In the first and second periods we were playing our D zone really well and we were getting the puck out most of the time when we had to,” he said. “In the third we kind of slowed down because we lost our conditioning a bit and we’ve got to work on that a bit.”
The Steel are 19 points out of a playoff spot after their 19th loss in 21 games. They have 15 games remaining, including seven at home where the team has won only four times.
“At this stage in the season we’re just trying to stay positive,” Smith said.
Only five players remain on the Steel roster from last season.
“We’re going to work as hard as we can and develop as a team,” Smith said. “We’re going to have a couple more team get-togethers and I really think it will help us out. If we get to know each other a little better, and just have fun with the rest of games, it will make us that much more better for next year.”
Last month the Steel shipped captain Taylor Fraser, 20, to the Saints for Smith, the AJHL rights for midget AAA defenceman Jarrett Brown of the Leduc Oil Kings and future considerations.
“Since I’ve been here I’ve stepped up my game a lot. I’ve had a lot more ice time,” Smith said. “It’s still pretty much a development year for me.”
The midget AAA Leduc product scored five goals and added four assists in 25 games with the Saints before switching teams.
“My coaches in Spruce Grove said it was going to be a development year for me. I was going to be one of those kids that they were going to teach and make me better as a player but then the trade went through and I came here.”
The paper-thin five-foot-11 skater found his niche with the Steel on a line with Brady Goebel, another ex-Saint, and centre Jamie Johnson, the team’s top scorer with 28 points in 42 games.
“I’m happy to be playing with them. They make it pretty easy for me and I’m a little more confident playing with the Steel now,” said Smith.
The Beaumont resident has four points in 11 games since joining the Steel but was scoreless in eight games before potting a pair in last week’s 3-2 win over the Grande Prairie Storm in St. Albert.
“It was good to get that off my back,” said Smith.
His second goal against netminder Pat Terriss was the highlight of the night.
“Matt Abt made a very nice pass and it just went under the defenceman’s stick and I had a clear cut breakaway. As soon as I got the puck I knew what I was going to do with it. It’s my go-to move every time: fake shot, go backhand then forehand and I slide it five-hole.”
Tonight the Steel host the Sherwood Park Crusaders (28-13-4) at 7 p.m. at Performance Arena.
Friday night the teams played in Sherwood Park but the score was unavailable at press time.
